Alleged drowning of wanted man in Ceduna, South Australia, treated as death in custody

[johcaschro]

Alleged drowning of wanted man in Ceduna, South Australia, treated as death in custody:

"Police are treating the death of a man who tried to evade police by swimming more than 200 metres out to sea on South Australia's West Coast as a death in custody."

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-01-22/mans-alleged-drowning-ceduna-south-australia-death-in-custody/...

Now I know that the average copper on the beat is not renowned for having a high IQ, but how could anyone claim to have a person "in custody" who is freely swimming in the ocean more than 200 metres away?

Maybe it's that the police wanted the recognition from their bosses of bagging a fair cop or maybe it's that the police have developed an overly sensitive, but politically correct sense of guilt and are claiming "mea culpa" before they are accused of driving this poor soul to his watery fate?

What do you think?

[performance_parts_clearance_centre]

"tried to evade police" / "driving this poor soul to his watery fate".

Same principal as a car chase which ends in the pursued driver being killed - just stop when the police tell you to. If you don't, and get injured / killed trying to get away, you've pretty much only got yourself to blame.

[freddie*rooster]

1)     I think he should have taken swimming lessons.

2)     He wasn't in custody so can't see how this could be classed as

a death in custody.

[davidc4430]

never heard of the loooong arm of the law?

[mloreason]

Could it be that they saw him drowning and never attempted to swim out and rescue him? Just a thought. It seems ridiculous that they can be held responsible otherwise. And even if that is the reason it still seems ridiculous. In the case of car chases I have always had a problem with them. Not because the driver (evading the police) crashes and dies but because sometimes innocent bystanders die as well. I get the dilemma that the police face though. If they don't pursue then it is sending a message to other would be criminals that they can make an easy escape. I know the police call off the chase when it is deemed too dangerous but I wonder how dangerous is too dangerous?

[freddie*rooster]

During a pursuit the radio room together with a supervisor is in control of the pursuit.

They take into cosideration the traffic conditions, the weather, the speed and the manner of

driving by the offender - they also take into consideration the reason for the pursuit- They will

do a radio check on the number plate often the police in pursuit will get a visual of the offending

driver in some cases they know the offender - A pursuit is only ever done under lights and siren.

[mloreason]

Thanks for clarifying freddie. 🙂

[freddie*rooster]

Mlor x