Latest news with #Osei
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
‘Terrified' black man died after police restrained him, inquest hears
A vulnerable and 'terrified' black man who was suffering a medical emergency and crying out for help died after police dragged him across a bathroom floor by his collar and handcuffed him, an inquest jury has heard. Godrick Osei, 35, who was said to be experiencing acute behavioural disturbance (ABD), became 'floppy' and suffered a fatal collapse within two minutes of being restrained. Relatives of Osei have claimed at the inquest in Truro that he was treated 'inhumanely' because of his race, which was denied by the Devon and Cornwall police officers involved in the incident. Osei's family described him as a deeply loved son, brother, father and uncle, a 'gentle giant' who had struggled with his mental health after the death of his father. The inquest heard Osei, a student, experienced ABD in the early hours of Sunday 3 July 2022 after taking cannabis and cocaine, and drinking alcohol. He thought he was being chased by someone and called the police asking for help before breaking into a care home in Truro and entering a narrow bathroom. Care home staff called 999 and when police officers arrived, Osei was locked inside the bathroom screaming and calling for help. Officers forced their way in and found Osei on the floor. One of the officers, PC Peter Boxall, told the inquest on Wednesday that he dragged Osei by his collar as this was the safest way to get him out of the narrow space. He argued that handcuffing him was justified for the safety of the officers and members of the public, including Osei. Una Morris, the family's lawyer, suggested to Boxall that his attitude changed when he saw Osei was black. He told a colleague to 'red dot' him – aim a Taser at him, though the electrical weapon was not discharged – and said: 'Fucking hell, look at the sight of his fingers,' the inquest heard. The lawyer asked Boxall if dragging a black man by the collar across the floor and swearing at him was 'inhumane'. Boxall replied that the man's race made no difference. 'We needed to gain control,' he said. However, he apologised for his language. Morris put it to Boxall that Osei was 'terrified'. The officer replied there was a 'certain amount of shock on his face'. Osei's family also claimed Boxall kicked Osei while he was on the floor, but he denied this. Within two minutes of being restrained, Osei collapsed and died. The inquest heard Osei had ABD, which presents with symptoms such as extreme agitation, paranoia, rapid breathing and sweating, and can be exacerbated by restraint. Boxall said he had been trained in ABD but had not recognised it in Osei. Earlier this week, the inquest heard there was an unfounded suspicion that Osei may have been a black man suspected of pushing a man from a bridge in Truro into the river the night before. Morris told the inquest the colour of the two men's skin was their only similarity. She suggested that this was an indicator of 'racial bias'. Rosie Antonio, another of the five officers who attended, said she had been worried that Osei could have a knife because care home staff reported he had blood on him and she heard the sound of a metal object hitting a hard surface. Antonio, who has since left the police, said she had had a 'small amount' of training on ABD but did not think when she arrived at the scene that this was what Osei was experiencing. A third officer, PC Katie Bagguley, said it did not cross her mind that it could have been ABD. The inquest continues.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Police actions worsened medical crisis that led to black man's death, inquest finds
A vulnerable black man who died after police dragged him across a bathroom floor by his collar and handcuffed him had a medical emergency that was worsened by his interactions with the officers, an inquest jury has concluded. Godrick Osei, a student, had been experiencing acute behavioural disturbance (ABD) in the early hours of 3 July 2022 after using cannabis and cocaine, and drinking alcohol, the inquest into his death heard. The 35-year-old thought he was being chased by someone and called the police asking for help before breaking into a care home in Truro, Cornwall, and entering a narrow bathroom. Care home staff called 999 and when police officers arrived, Osei was locked inside the bathroom screaming and calling for help. Officers forced their way in and found Osei on the floor. One of the officers, PC Peter Boxall, told the inquest he dragged Osei by his collar as this was the safest way to get him out of the narrow space. He argued that handcuffing him was justified for the safety of the officers and members of the public, including Osei. The inquest heard ABD presents with symptoms such as extreme agitation, paranoia, rapid breathing and sweating, and can be exacerbated by restraint. Boxall said he had been trained in ABD but had not recognised it in Osei. The inquest jury returned a narrative conclusion on Friday. It said: 'Godrick's death was caused by heart failure related to acute behavioural disturbance (ABD) and associated drug and alcohol misuse and mental health difficulties (PTSD). 'His ABD was exacerbated by the use of illicit substances and alcohol and psychological distress he experienced with his interactions with the police.' In legal arguments during the inquest, the family argued that the jury should be given the option of reaching a conclusion of unlawful killing. They said that everything Osei experienced that night – including being dragged across the floor and sworn at – was 'part and parcel' of the events that led to his death. Devon and Cornwall police argued that natural causes ought to be the conclusion. The case is particularly sensitive for the Devon and Cornwall force after the death of church caretaker Thomas Orchard, who died after a heavy webbing belt was placed over his face by police during a mental health crisis in Exeter in 2012. An inquest jury found in 2023 that prolonged use of the belt may have contributed to his death. The charity Inquest, which has been supporting Osei's family, said his death highlighted a 'broader and longstanding pattern' of a disproportionate number of deaths of black men after police use of force, particularly those in mental health crisis. Research by Inquest in 2022 reported that black people are seven times more likely to die after police restraint than white people. After the conclusion of the hearing, Jodie Anderson, senior caseworker at Inquest, said: 'The police response to Godrick was brutal and inhumane. Terrified and in crisis, he called 999 seeking help, fearing for his life. Instead, he was met with aggression and force. 'Godrick's death highlights a deeply embedded culture within policing: one that defaults to violence rather than compassion. From the Macpherson report to the Casey review, the warnings about institutional racism have been clear – yet nothing changes.' During his inquest in Truro, Osei's family claimed he was treated 'inhumanely' because of his race, which was denied by the officers involved in the incident. His relatives described him as a deeply loved son, brother, and father-of-two, a 'gentle giant' who had struggled with his mental health after the death of his father. Una Morris, the family's lawyer, suggested to PC Boxall that his attitude changed when he saw Osei was black. The inquest heard that he told a colleague to 'red dot' Osei – aim a Taser at him, though the electrical weapon was not discharged – and said: 'Fucking hell, look at the sight of his fingers.' The lawyer asked Boxall if dragging a black man by the collar across the floor and swearing at him was 'inhumane'. Boxall replied that the man's race made no difference. 'We needed to gain control,' he said. However, he apologised for his language. Devon and Cornwall police have been contacted for comment.
Yahoo
08-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Man pleads guilty to dumping mind-boggling mountain of dangerous waste: 'It's shocking'
Tri-State Alert reported that a Baltimore man accused of owning and illegally dumping 250,000 scrap tires in Western Maryland pleaded guilty to the charges and was sentenced to 45 days in jail and was ordered to pay $250,000 in restitution to the Allegany County Commissioners and a fine of $300,000 to the Maryland Clean Water Fund, according to CBS News. Michel Osei, 48, of Hanover, Maryland, was offered a land lease with favorable terms based on his proposal to operate a scrap tire recycling facility that already had millions of dollars of contracts lined up and would eventually employ up to 50 people. He began operations of the facility on July 19, 2021, collecting scrap tires from locations in West Virginia. The Maryland Department of the Environment and the Fire Marshal ordered Osei to stop operations several times when investigations showed safe conditions were not being met. When Osei finally abandoned the facility in September 2022, the land housed over 250,000 tires, which were left outdoors in heaping piles that were uncovered. Very few, if any, tires were ever removed from the site. The photos are shocking. The tires left in this state posed a dangerous fire hazard, threatened air quality, and polluted the water. Attorney General Brown told Tri-State Alert: "Frankly, it's shocking that any company would be so reckless as to endanger the health of Marylanders in this way." When scrap tires wear down, they release tire wear particles, a significant source of microplastics. These microplastics can make their way into water sources, posing a risk to the ecosystem, aquatic life, and human health. Harmful substances can also be leaked into the surrounding soil and groundwater, a main reason why repurposing tires in a garden is not advised. Tire manufacturer Goodyear is creating a tire with 50% sustainable materials, one example of a large company taking action toward a cleaner future. These tires will be especially important for electric vehicle drivers, as EVs tend to wear down tires faster than their gas-powered counterparts due to their increased weight. Individuals and companies have to take responsibility for their actions, and everyone needs to do their part to slow and hopefully reduce negative environmental impact. Brown reflected that, saying: "Convictions like this are essential to safeguarding our environment and making it crystal clear that businesses must recycle and dispose of scrap tires lawfully. We simply won't tolerate such irresponsible behavior." Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
CBS News
14-02-2025
- General
- CBS News
Sustainable chocolate: A Valentine's Day gift for the planet
MIAMI - If you've stepped into any supermarket in the past few weeks, you've likely passed by red and pink greeting cards, heart-shaped balloons and shelves upon shelves of chocolate. And for good reason, these chocolates satisfy the sweet tooth of millions of Americans on Valentine's Day. In fact, around 58 million pounds of chocolate are consumed on this "Day of Love" each year, according to But behind all the truffles and turtles lies a not-so-sweet truth: chocolate has a significant impact on the environment. Chocolate's carbon footprint "Producing about 2.2 pounds of chocolate can create about 42 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions," explains Kwane Osei, the Senior Director of Global Programs at the Rainforest Alliance. Chocolate ranks as one of the least sustainable foods, according to trailing only behind beef, lamb and dairy in greenhouse gas emissions. This substantial environmental footprint is due to deforestation, excessive pesticide use and carbon dioxide emissions. "Clearing a forest to plant cocoa releases a large amount of carbon stored in the trees, so deforestation is a major contributor to chocolate's carbon footprint," Osei states. "We take a lot of nutrients from the soil; for that matter, you experience soil degradation. They also use pesticides and fertilizers that can lead to contamination of water sources." A more sustainable way to enjoy But you don't have to give up chocolate entirely to be more eco-friendly this Valentine's Day. There are more sustainable options right here in South Florida that will leave less of an environmental aftertaste. Benjamin Fogel, for example, is the owner and chocolatier behind Ben B Coco, a local chocolate factory in Miami's Wynwood neighborhood. Benjamin prides himself on sourcing cocoa from farms that focus on sustainable practices, like agroforestry, which helps protect forests, conserve soil and encourage biodiversity. "We buy the premium ingredients from the farmers directly and we try to avoid the carbon footprint," he describes after a full morning of prepping chocolate. "The chocolate we buy specifically is from farmers in Peru and Ecuador, very small farmers. They are not using any harsh chemicals." And no environmentally harmful additives, like commonly used palm oil, which is also a major driver of deforestation. Sustainability without sacrificing taste Fortunately, choosing organic and sustainably sourced chocolate doesn't mean sacrificing rich, indulgent flavor. A customer walking around the chocolate shop tries a sample. "Mmmmmm, delicious, so good," she exclaims. "Wow… Amazing, really good," another customer says as they bite into a piece of chocolate.
