Latest news with #positionalasphyxia
Associated Press
15-07-2025
- Associated Press
7 police officers put on leave after man's restraint death outside fish shop in Boston suburb
HAVERHILL, Mass. (AP) — Seven officers in the Boston suburb of Haverhill are on paid leave after a handcuffed 43-year-old man became unresponsive and died as police tried to restrain him outside a fish market. Officials are seeking video and photos from the public as they investigate the death Friday of Francis Gigliotti. who had been walking into traffic during what his fiancee called a mental health crisis. The officers were not wearing body cameras. Video captured by witnesses showed several officers holding Gigliotti face down as he cries out, although it was not clear how long he was restrained or when he became unresponsive. The U.S. Department of Justice has warned police officers since the mid-1990s to roll suspects off their stomachs as soon as they are handcuffed because of the danger of positional asphyxia. Putting someone on their stomach is not inherently life-threatening. But many policing experts agree that someone can stop breathing if pinned on their chest for too long or with too much weight because it can compress the lungs and put stress on the heart. Fiancee Michelle Rooney said he was unarmed. 'What happened to him was absolutely terrible, and my heart's broken,' she told Boston's NBC10. 'I heard Francis scream as I was running up the hill. But by the time I got there, he wasn't screaming anymore.' Other video the station obtained shows Gigliotti falling onto the sidewalk as he leaves a store, then hitting his head on a parked car and weaving into traffic. Authorities said he was nearly struck several times. In a statement posted Sunday, District Attorney Paul F. Tucker and Haverhill Police Chief Robert Pistone said responding police 'found Gigliotti behaving in an erratic and belligerent manner and called for an ambulance to assess his well-being.' Muriel Enos, Gigliotti's aunt, told WCVB that video of the police encounter horrified her. 'Seven police officers holding one (person) and watching my nephew beg for help,' she said. 'And then listening to his last cry.' Both Mayor Melinda E. Barrett and Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey offered condolences to the family. Barrett promised a transparent investigation. According to Barrett, the city of Haverhill funds both a social worker who works with police on drug intervention and a behavioral health clinician who is embedded in the police department. The behavioral health unit responded to more than 800 calls last year, she said. 'As we mourn, we must also reflect on how we help those in crisis,' said Barrett, who said she hopes to build on these resources and invest in more training and equipment for police.
CBC
13-06-2025
- CBC
Jurors at Saskatoon inquest call on police to review arrest policies, use of 'spit socks'
Jurors at a Saskatoon inquest said police should review their training, policies and procedures around subduing and arresting suspects. The recommendations concluded a four-day inquest before coroner William Davern into the June 18, 2022, death of Ashwin Poggenpoel. The 32-year-old died when officers pinned him face-down on the ground with his hands cuffed behind his back and a mesh bag, known as a "spit sock," over his head. Davern told the inquest panel Thursday that Poggenpoel died accidentally. "I cannot say on a balance of probabilities that officers intended to harm or cause the death of Mr. Poggenpoel," Davern said. "In the absence of intent, the only conclusion is an accident." Officers were called to an apartment building near City Hospital for a report of a man in distress. The first to arrive decided the man needed medical attention and called an ambulance. At that point, Poggenpoel was simply standing with the officers and had not been arrested, Davern said. Poggenpoel's autopsy later showed that he had methamphetamine and cocaine in his system. It also determined he died of "positional asphyxia," which happens when a person's body position prevents adequate breathing. The 32-year-old bolted from police before paramedics arrived and ran a block to Queen Street. There, he broke into a house. Police said they were concerned at that point he would hurt himself, or someone in the house. Police caught up and then began trying to subdue Poggenpoel. Davern said Poggenpoel was in a state of "excited delerium." "A struggle ensued and they handcuffed him, put on a spit sock and held him down … all the while calling for help to sedate him." Officers testified that Poggenpoel continued bucking and struggling, which they interpreted as resisting. Davern said that Poggenpoel was likely confused and panicking, struggling because he could not breathe. He stopped struggling after three to four minutes, "unfortunately because he had stopped breathing," Davern said. The inquest recommendations included: The Saskatchewan Police College review its curriculum and implement training on positional asphyxia. Saskatoon police review its use of force policy to ensure the vital signs of a suspect in a state of "excited delirium" are actively monitored. Saskatoon police annually train all officers on the risks of positional asphyxia. The use of force policy be reviewed with regard to whether spit socks ought to be used when a person is in the prone position. Saskatoon police reviews its use of force policy in regards to the risks associated with positional asphyxia. Saskatoon police declined an interview request from CBC, instead supplying a written response. "The Saskatoon Police Service has received the recommendations of the jury following the inquest into the death of Ashwin Poggenpoel and will undertake a period of review of our policies and procedures in relation to those recommendations," communications director Alyson Edwards wrote.
The Sun
27-05-2025
- General
- The Sun
Stroller urgently recalled over ‘high risk' of babies and toddlers choking as parents warned to stop using immediately
A POPULAR baby pram has been urgently recalled amid concerns it could cause serious harm to young children. Parents have been warned to stop using the stroller immediately as it can pose a potential choking hazard. 1 The At Performance stroller has been recalled as it poses a 'high risk' of asphyxiation to babies and toddlers when being used. A report from The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) revealed the risk in an urgent product safety report. The report claims that the Z1 Black and Z1 Gray models are those which pose a safety risk to young children if put in an upright position. It reads: "The product presents a high risk of asphyxiation due to the lack of warnings, instructions and safety information. "Without access to this information, a parent or carer could place the baby in the product in an upright position. "If the baby fell asleep, their head could drop forwards, restricting airflow to the lungs and potentially causing positional asphyxia." As a result, the item does not meet the requirements of the General Product Safety Regulations 2005 and corrective measures have been implemented as a result. This includes imports of the item being rejected at the border with the strollers originally coming from China. The product was recalled on May 23 2025. The stroller is advertised online for as much as £500 and is described as suitable for children up to 36 months. Its description boasts a functional 3-in-1 pushchair that can also be used as an infant carrier and car seat. One of the features mentioned is the stroller backrest which "can be reclined to the lie-flat position in three increments" but if made upright, it presents a potentially fatal risk to a baby or toddler. The At Performance stroller isn't the only baby item to be recalled recently either. Just last month, parents were warned that a Newborn 0-3 Month Hooded Teddy Bear Sleeping Bag, sold via eBay, posed a serious suffocation risk. Some of the items were missing arm openings, meaning a baby may slip down if unattended, while others include a hood which could potentially cover their head or face if left alone. Parents were warned to "stop using them immediately". Earlier this month, ASDA was also forced to recall baby clothes after issuing an urgent warning to parents. The George baby zip rompers had a manufacturing issue that meant some of the zips potentially had sharp edges. ASDA warned it affected all sizes and urged parents to return the item for a full refund. And another trendy pram was recalled earlier this year over concerns with its parking brake. Parents were urged to check if their Stokke YOYO 3 Pram was part of the recall as the £319 stroller may experience an unintentional release of the brake during use, putting children at risk of an insecurely parked pram.
