An investigation has begun into the death of a man while being arrested by police in a Market Drayton street.
The man, named on Wednesday as Jason Pearce, 38, from Telford, died after police were called to a disturbance in Sambrook Crescent last Saturday just after 5.30pm.
The investigation is being led by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) which looks into all cases of death involving the police.
Residents claimed that Mr Pearce’s body was left lying on the ground for more than six hours before being taken away for a post mortem examination on Sunday.
The findings have not yet been released and West Mercia Police are treating the matter as an unexplained death.
A Sambrook Crescent resident, who asked not to be named, said: “The incident started at around 5.30pm when the man came onto the estate and started causing trouble.
“He was jumping on cars and causing damage, before the police came and tried to reason with him, but he was having none of it.
“So they had to restrain him and when I looked, they were leaning over him and trying to give him mouth to mouth resuscitation.
“One of the neighbours was also trying to resuscitate the man as she was a nurse. It was pandemonium because we had police from Shrewsbury, Wem, Whitchurch and a forensics team.
“We couldn’t understand what was happening and the residents felt quite sad because this person was lying there for over six hours and wasn’t removed until after midnight.”
Police have conducted house-to-house inquiries to try to trace Mr Pearce’s movements on Saturday, and have appealed for anyone who may have seen him to contact them on 0300 333 3000.
Senior investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector Steve Tonks said: “A Home Office pathologist carried out a post mortem on Sunday but it may be several days before the results are available to help determine the cause of death.”
“I am particularly keen to hear from anyone who may have seen Mr Pearce between about 3.30pm and 5.30pm as he may have been in the Newcastle Road and Betton Road areas before making his way to Sambrook Crescent.”
An IPCC spokesman said: “We have received a referral from West Mercia Police regarding the death of a man in Market Drayton.
“IPCC investigators have been dispatched to begin an investigation and they are presently assessing the situation.”
By Winston Brown
