Essex: Restraint death police faced 'incredible challenge'

Jamie Crandle, pictured on a holiday in 2018, was a father-of-four born in Newham, East London

Police officers who restrained a man moments before he died faced an "incredibly challenging situation", a coroner has said.

Jamie Crandle, 41, died from heart failure after being arrested on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker outside an Essex hotel in 2020.

The four officers were questioned about their conduct at a six-day inquest.

The inquest jury concluded they assessed the situation "in accordance with their training experience".

Jamie Crandle was staying at the De Rougemont Manor hotel in Brentwood

Area coroner Sean Horstead described the father-of-four's death as a "very tragic case" and said the officers faced an "incredibly challenging situation".

A previous investigation by the Independent Office of Police Conduct concluded there was no wrongdoing on the part of Essex Police.

However, Mr Crandle's mother Jackie Moxley told BBC Essex she wished police handled her son "a little bit better" during the arrest.

Heavy breathing

The inquest heard Mr Crandle - a painter, decorator and carpenter born in Newham, east London - was staying at the De Rougemont Manor in Great Warley Street, Brentwood, on 10 November.

Police were called the following morning to reports he had "thrown chairs" at the hotel and found him about 200m (650ft) up the road leaning against a car in a busy road.

Officers noted foaming at his mouth, a "bloody discharge" from his nose, heavy breathing and general distress.

After appearing to push an officer, he was arrested, handcuffed and placed in leg restraints, but within about two minutes he appeared to lose consciousness and an ambulance was called.

Police attempted CPR and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Area coroner Sean Horstead paid tribute to a "much-loved family man"

The jury concluded the death was "drug and alcohol-related" and in its further narrative conclusion it said: "The police officers assessed the situation in accordance with their training experience and the limited information provided in order to keep themselves and Mr Crandle safe."

The medical cause of death was recorded as "cardiorespiratory collapse occurring during restraint of a man with acute behavioural disturbance and cocaine intoxication following a period of physical activity".

Jamie Crandle's mother Jackie Moxley said he would have been "the best grandad"

One of Mr Crandle's older children has given birth since his death and Ms Moxley said he "would have been the best grandad".

His widowed wife Lisa Meah, in a statement released before the inquest, said she wanted to "hear for myself the explanations of the police officers who were there".

Essex Police said in a statement: "The safety of anyone who comes into our care remains a priority.

"We would again like to extend our condolences to Jamie Crandle's family."