Jury concludes officer’s aggressive conduct likely contributed to man’s death

An inquest jury determined that a police officer’s “inappropriate and aggressive” method used to subdue a father-of-three most likely played a role in his death. Sali Byberi, aged 29, experienced a decline in health after being subjected to multiple Taser discharges at his residence in Braintree, Essex, during November 2022. At Essex coroner’s court, jurors concluded that the officer “inflamed and escalated” the circumstances, following a call responding to reports of a domestic disturbance. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) had previously deemed the police intervention to be “necessary and proportionate.” Furthermore, the jury stated that Mr Byberi’s “prolonged” cocaine use prior to the event was a contributing factor in his demise. Essex Police commented that its officers encountered a “challenging incident” and affirmed that the safety of everyone present was their priority. A spokesman for Essex Police further stated, “We note the jury’s findings regarding one officer’s engagement with Mr Byberi and will work to fully understand their conclusion and how that is balanced with the independent, expert evidence given during the inquest.” Mr Byberi, originally from Tropojë, Albania, operated a family car-wash business located in Sudbury, Suffolk. The official medical cause of death for Mr Byberi was documented as “acute cocaine toxicity” accompanied by “acute behavioural disturbance.” Testimony presented in court indicated that he passed away “during a period of restraint and significant hyperthermia.” Mr Byberi’s family was visibly distressed in court as the jury presented its findings. In a subsequent statement, they conveyed that “everyone adored him and his infectious personality.” They added, “While it’s been more than two years since Sali died, time has stood still for our family because of the many unanswered questions we’ve had.” The family’s statement continued, “The inquest and listening to the evidence has been incredibly upsetting, but we take some small comfort from at least having answers.” On 21 November 2022, at 11:30 GMT, police were summoned to Mr Byberi’s flat on Clockhouse Way by a social worker who reported concerns after hearing raised voices. Two officers, identified in court by the pseudonyms G1 and R7, subsequently entered the premises. The jury noted that while G1 attempted to de-escalate Mr Byberi, R7’s conduct was “inappropriate and aggressive.” Mr Byberi then allegedly assaulted G1, prompting R7 to deploy their Taser repeatedly until Mr Byberi was brought under control. The jury foreman, in delivering the conclusion, stated, “Sali’s behaviour became erratic, which later led to a decision that he was suffering from acute behavioural disturbance (ABD).” The jury also concluded that the subsequent care Mr Byberi received from both police and paramedics might have contributed to an increase in his stress levels and body temperature. According to the foreman, the initial medical response provided by the attending paramedics was deemed “inadequate and lacking guidance.” Mr Byberi experienced a sudden seizure at 12:10, followed by cardiac arrest, and was pronounced deceased an hour later. The jury foreman further elaborated, “The combined effect of R7’s inappropriate approach, the officers not identifying ABD earlier and the escalation of the situation, rather than de-escalating, probably contributed to Sali’s death.” However, jurors determined that the police’s deployment of a Taser did not contribute to his death. Charmaine Arbouin, regional director for the IOPC, stated that both the use of a Taser and restraints were “necessary and proportionate.” She also noted that the officers exhibited a “high degree of compassion and aftercare” towards Mr Byberi during the period they awaited paramedics. Ms Arbouin concluded, “Our thoughts and sympathies remain with Mr Byberi’s family and everyone affected by his death.” For updates on Essex news, follow BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram, and X. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content of external websites. Information regarding its approach to external linking is available.