Met Officers Cleared of Misconduct Following Death in Custody of Mikias Tekeste
Two Metropolitan Police officers have been cleared of gross misconduct following the death of 30-year-old Mikias Tekeste, who died after swallowing drugs while in custody in July 2023.
The disciplinary hearing concluded on Thursday, July 10, finding that PCs Justin Hulf and Mara Sow, both of the South Area Command Unit, acted appropriately during their interactions with Mr Tekeste and were not responsible for his death.
The panel ruled the allegations were not proven, despite the case having been referred for a hearing by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), which had disagreed with the Met’s internal assessment that the officers had no case to answer.
Arrest and Custody Timeline
Mr Tekeste was arrested on 15 July 2023 after being identified as wanted on recall to prison. During the arrest, he discarded a quantity of Class A drugs, was searched, and placed in a police van for transport to Croydon custody centre.
Unbeknownst to the officers, during the journey he removed two packages from his trousers and swallowed them.
At the custody centre, Mr Tekeste informed officers that he was experiencing withdrawal symptoms. A drugs test confirmed cocaine and opiate use. He was arrested again on suspicion of possession with intent to supply and placed on 30-minute observations.
While in his cell, Mr Tekeste became seriously unwell, experiencing multiple seizures before falling unconscious. Emergency care was administered on-site before he was transferred to hospital, where he later died from cocaine toxicity.
Panel Clears Officers
The misconduct hearing examined whether the officers failed in their duty of care by not properly supervising Mr Tekeste or identifying the risks he posed.
The IOPC had concluded that the officers should face a gross misconduct hearing for inadequate supervision during transport. However, the panel found that:
- The search conducted at the time of arrest was appropriate.
- The officers were unaware Mr Tekeste had hidden and ingested more drugs.
- Their risk assessment and level of supervision during transport was suitable given the information available at the time.
Met Police Responds
Detective Chief Superintendent Nick Blackburn, who oversees the area, acknowledged the hearing’s outcome:
“Our officers have a clear duty of care to those in their custody. However, Mr Tekeste was responsible for his actions that day and knowingly swallowed drugs.
The hearing has found that the officers with him in the police van that day acted appropriately.
Our thoughts remain with Mr Tekeste’s family and friends for their loss.”
Ongoing Oversight
As is standard in all deaths in police custody, the incident was subject to independent investigation by the IOPC. The Met says it continues to review custody procedures and training to reduce the risk of future in-custody deaths.
