Mohamud Hassan: Death unconnected to police custody, panel told

Mohamud Hassan died hours after being released from police custody

A man's death hours after being released from a Cardiff police station was not connected to his time in custody, a police disciplinary panel has heard.

Mohamud Hassan, 24, died on 9 January 2021, after being found unresponsive at a flat on the city's Newport Road.

The previous evening he had been arrested on suspicion of a breach of the peace.

A sergeant, referred to as Officer A, faces a misconduct allegation.

He was on duty at Cardiff Bay Police Station when Mr Hassan arrived, and a misconduct panel must decide if he used excessive force.

Mr Hassan's death led to a series of protests and demonstrations including a large scale protest outside Cardiff Bay Police Station.

But the hearing in Bridgend was told a detailed investigation by the Independent Office of Police Conduct "did not find that time spent in custody was a contributory factor in his death".

• Families still searching for justice after deaths

• Misconduct notices served after custody death

• Further protest over arrested man's death

Mr Hassan's arrest followed a 999 call from a man claiming to have been attacked by a number of people in the flat.

Jonathan Walters for the prosecuting authority, South Wales Police, told the three-person disciplinary panel that when police arrived at the flat, Mr Hassan spat in the direction of the police from an upstairs window.

Mr Walters said the arrest took place during the Covid pandemic, restrictions were in place and concerns about Covid-19 were "inevitably heightened".

Protesters marched from the city centre to Cardiff Bay following Mr Hassan's death

Footage from body worn cameras showed the officers entering the flat.

Mr Hassan was arrested for a breach of the peace, handcuffed with his hands behind him and a spit hood was placed over his head.

He was taken by police van to Cardiff Bay Police Station and during the journey, continued to spit and argue with officers, the panel heard.

At times the video showed him rolling around the rear of the van, kicking the panels.

An officer was heard telling Mr Hassan: "You'll hurt yourself if you do that."

The panel was told Mr Hassan had been able to manoeuvre his arms so that the handcuffs were at the front of his body and he had also been able to remove the spit hood.

As he arrived at the station, an officer was heard telling custody staff that Mr Hassan had also been head butting.

"It's only a breach of the peace. He's horrible," he said.

As Mr Hassan was taken into a cell, he "verbally resisted" and continued to "spit regularly at officers", the hearing was told.

CCTV camera footage showed him screaming and swearing at the officers.

Mr Walters said: "After a struggle with officers, they took him to the ground."

A sergeant at Cardiff Bay Police Station, known as Officer A, faces an allegation of gross misconduct.

Mr Walters said: "Officer A placed his hand on the back of his head in order to take him to the ground."

He added that the three panel members would have to decide: "Did he use excessive force or not?"

The hearing continues.