Rashan Charles: Item lodged in his throat did not contain illegal drugs, police watchdog says

'The attempt to smear Rashan as somebody involved in drugs was an attempt to assassinate his character,' says anti-racism campaigner

Rashan Charles was arrested in a shop in Hackney following a police chase (Facebook)

The object reportedly swallowed by Rashan Charles moments before he was apprehended by police did not contain an illegal substance, the police watchdog has said.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) said forensic analysis showed the package "did not contain a controlled substance".

Mr Charles died after being arrested in a shop in Hackney, East London, on 22 July. The 20-year-old was rushed to hospital after being arrested but was later pronounced dead.

His death sparked violent clashes with policy in Hackney as protestors hurled bottles and fireworks at officers.

An IPCC spokesman said: "The IPCC has now received results of forensic analysis of an object that was removed from Rashan's airway by paramedics.

"The object did not contain a controlled substance."

He added: "The IPCC's investigation into the circumstances of Rashan Charles' death following contact with police in Hackney on 22 July is ongoing and making good progress.

"Our independent investigation is thoroughly examining all aspects of police interaction with Rashan prior to his death and has already undertaken a large number of investigative actions."

A post mortem has been carried out and investigators are awaiting preliminary results, he added. Mr Charles' family were informed of the results of the forensic analysis on Wednesday afternoon.

Weyman Bennett, co-convenor at Stand Up To Racism, said: "We now know that the initial statements put out at the time of Rashan's death were misleading or outright lies. Justification for his death looks increasingly at the hands of those people that forcibly restrained him.

"The attempt to smear Rashan as somebody involved in drugs was an attempt to assassinate his character. We hold the police wholly responsible for these false statements that were put out, and we demand justice for Rashan."

Mr Charles was detained following a police chase after officers stopped a car in the early hours of the morning. He is said to have fled the car, in which he was travelling as a passenger, and was pursued by officers on foot.

CCTV footage from the shop showed the father of one being violently restrained by an police officer, who appears to be reaching into Mr Charles' throat to remove the object he is reported to have swallowed.

Shortly after the incident the IPCC released a statement saying it had obtained evidence Mr Charles had swallowed an object before being arrested. The item was removed at the scene.