A mother has vowed she ‘will fight for justice until the day she dies’ after her son was found unresponsive in police custody and could not be revived.
Ellis Rocks, 26, died as his mother and sister held his hand in hospital days after being arrested inside the Britannia Hotel in Almond Brook Road, Standish, Wigan.
He was searched and handcuffed by Greater Manchester Police (GMP) officers at the scene before being transferred to custody at about 8.35pm on Thursday.
(Credits: Cavendish Press (Manchester) Ltd)
Mr Rocks remained in custody overnight and an ambulance was called by detention officers at about 2.30am on Friday after he was seen to be unresponsive and lying on the floor of a cell.
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After paramedics arrived, he was taken to hospital but he suffered a cardiac arrest en route and resuscitation was commenced.
Mr Rocks died in hospital at 7.20am on Sunday.
His mother posted an emotional tribute to him on Facebook, revealing she was holding on to her son’s hand when he took his last breath.
She wrote: ‘My beautiful boy Ellis has sadly passed away this morning at 7.20am.
‘Me and his sister got to spend the last 52 hours of his life at his side and held his hands as he took his last breath. Nothing can fix this pain we feel as a family, and it’s something that could have been avoided.
‘To avoid speculation and malicious rumours. My son was arrested and in police custody at the time, and an event occurred where only we know as a family, and our close friends.’
She demanded justice for his death, adding: ‘We have our own investigation team who are in touch with us every step of the way to find justice for my son Ellis Rocks and to make sure this never happens to anyone’s child again.
‘We are broken as a family. We cannot thank the paramedics who attended to Ellis enough, they are helping us with the enquiry as they saw first hand the events that unfolded.
‘May my little boy rest in peace and we will fight for justice till the day we die.’
After a mandatory referral from GMP, IOPC investigators were deployed in the early hours of Friday and an independent investigation was declared at 10.18am on Sunday.
The watchdog has reviewed CCTV from the custody suite and body-worn video footage from officers involved in the arrest, it said. It has also been in touch with the force about receiving initial accounts from the officers.
An IOPC spokesperson said: ‘This was a tragic incident in which Mr Rocks has sadly died and our thoughts are with his family and loved ones.
‘GMP referred this matter to us, and as he was in the custody of police at the time he became unwell, it is important there is a thorough and independent investigation. We will examine all relevant matters including the interaction officers had with Mr Rocks during his detention and what happened after he arrived at the custody suite.
‘We have made contact with his family to explain our role and will update them as our inquiries progress.’