Andre Moura: Five officers referred to CPS over man's custody death
- Published
Andre Moura, 30, died hours after his arrest
Files on five police officers on duty when a 30-year-old man was arrested and later died in custody have been passed to the Crown Prosecution Service.
Andre Moura was found "unresponsive" in a police van in Oldham in July 2018 and later pronounced dead in hospital.
The Greater Manchester Police officers were referred to the CPS by the Independent Office for Police Conduct.
The constables are being investigated on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
One of them was also referred on suspicion of committing assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
The incident was captured in mobile phone footage shot by a neighbour, and involved father-of-four Mr Moura being restrained with CS gas.
The CPS will now decide whether to bring criminal charges against the officers.
Mr Moura was taken in a police van to Ashton-under-Lyne police station
Mr Moura, who was originally from Portugal, was arrested amid reports of a domestic incident at the home he shared with his partner and children on Seventh Avenue in on the night of 6 July last year.
The neighbour who filmed the arrest told officers their actions were "excessive".
Mr Moura can be heard screaming "help", with officers shouting at him to stop "resisting".
He was taken in a police van to Ashton-under-Lyne station but found to be "unresponsive" on arrival.
'Very serious case'
An ambulance was called and he was confirmed dead at 01:30 the next day at Tameside Hospital.
The IOPC said a post-mortem examination was inconclusive and an inquest would be need to be held to determine the precise cause of Mr Moura's death.
The watchdog has examined CCTV, body-worn camera footage, and mobile phone film of the incident.
No action was taken regarding a further five officers questioned as part of the investigation.
IOPC regional director Amanda Rowe described the case as "very serious and sensitive".
She said two expert reports were commissioned because of the complexity of the investigation, which had added to the length of the inquiry.
- Published14 September 2018
