Father of Two Dies Shortly After Police Handcuffing in Biddulph Home Incident
A 25-year-old father of two died moments after being placed in handcuffs by police officers during a distressing incident in Biddulph, Stoke-on-Trent, an inquest has heard. Joshua Cooper had taken cocaine before wandering into an elderly woman's home on March 26 last year, leading to a police response that ended tragically.
Police Response and Handcuffing
When Staffordshire Police officers arrived at the scene, they found Joshua Cooper under a pile of bricks, making growling noises. Responding officer Pc Lawton stated in a statement read at the hearing that they were informed the male was on 'monkey dust,' a psychoactive substance known to cause abnormal strength, paranoia, and volatility. Officers assessed him as potentially violent and uncooperative.
Pc Lawton explained: "I tried to assist him to his feet holding his right arm. But he was very heavy. I could not get him up and he fell to his knees in a praying position and began to throw his upper body back and forth. I placed him into handcuffs. He was resisting and making growling noises." The handcuffs were applied within a minute of arrival at 11.26pm, with officers using minimal force to prevent harm to themselves, Joshua, or the public.
Medical Emergency and Death
At 11.35pm, a member of the public noticed Joshua's lips had turned blue, prompting officers to remove the handcuffs so CPR could be administered. Despite efforts, Joshua died shortly after. Forensic pathologist Dr Brett Lockyer confirmed the cause of death as cocaine intoxication combined with coronary artery disease, likely stemming from his cocaine abuse. Coroner Emma Serrano concluded it was a drug-related death, stating: "If he had not taken cocaine that night, he would not have passed away."
IOPC Investigation and Findings
The Independent Office for Police Conduct launched an investigation as Joshua died while interacting with police. Patrick Cragg, who led the IOPC review, told the inquest that officers requested ambulance attendance within 90 seconds, suspecting acute behavioural disturbance. The investigation found no concerns, with the IOPC concluding that Staffordshire Police officers "acted appropriately and in line with policy."
Family Background and Addiction
Joshua's partner shared that she met him in 2017 through college, and they had two children together. She only became aware of his addiction last year, noting he hid it well until his behaviour changed. She said: "Joshua had mentioned to me that he had unanswered questions about his mum’s overdose, which influenced his own addiction." On the night of his death, she spoke to him on the phone and observed his eyes looked "wired and almost black," leading her to block his number due to threatening behaviour.
Coroner Serrano expressed her sincerest condolences to the family, acknowledging Joshua's struggle with cocaine addiction. The case highlights the complex challenges faced by both individuals with substance abuse issues and law enforcement responding to such incidents.
