Man dies in police custody

A Police investigation is underway after a man was found dead in the Papakura District Court cells this afternoon. He was alone in the cell at the time.

The man, aged 36, was in custody on active charges of kidnapping, injuring with intent to injure and male assaults female. He was arrested by Police early in the morning of May 4 for breaching bail conditions which related to his active charges.

The man had appeared in court today and had been remanded in custody. At around 3:45pm when officers entered his cell to move him, he was found unconscious. Police staff commenced CPR immediately and continued to administer it until ambulance staff arrived. Ambulance officers continued CPR but the man was subsequently pronounced dead.

A post mortem will be conducted to establish the cause of death.

A full investigation is underway into the circumstances of the man's death and the incident has been referred to the IPCA.

Support is being offered to the man's family.

'The incident is a tragedy and we extend our deepest sympathies to the family,” says Counties Manukau Police District Commander Superintendent John Tims. "There will be a robust and thorough investigation by Police to look at what occurred, and we expect that the IPCA will also conduct its own investigation into the circumstances."

The man's name will not be released at this stage. Preliminary inquries indicate there are no suspicious circumstances to the death and the Coroner has been advised.

Source: New Zealand Police.

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