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| Man's river death is questioned | Man's river death is questioned |
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| The family of a man with mental health problems, who was found drowned days after he was left drunk at an acquaintance's, have criticised police. | The family of a man with mental health problems, who was found drowned days after he was left drunk at an acquaintance's, have criticised police. |
| Christopher Richards, 23, from Ton Pentre, Rhondda, was found in a river three days after he was last seen. | Christopher Richards, 23, from Ton Pentre, Rhondda, was found in a river three days after he was last seen. |
| The coroner, recording an open verdict, questioned why Mr Richards was not taken into custody in April last year. | The coroner, recording an open verdict, questioned why Mr Richards was not taken into custody in April last year. |
| The Independent Police Complaints Commission said it found police acted proportionately and appropriately. | The Independent Police Complaints Commission said it found police acted proportionately and appropriately. |
| Mr Richards' father said officers should have tried harder to find a home or family contact on his son's mobile before leaving him with an acquaintance. | Mr Richards' father said officers should have tried harder to find a home or family contact on his son's mobile before leaving him with an acquaintance. |
| But the IPCC said the family's complaint had been investigated and rejected. | But the IPCC said the family's complaint had been investigated and rejected. |
| I did query whether they felt he should have been arrested and taken into custody Philip Walters, coroner | I did query whether they felt he should have been arrested and taken into custody Philip Walters, coroner |
| Mr Richards' body was found in the River Rhondda in April by local youths, two days after some of his clothes were found at a river bridge near his home. | Mr Richards' body was found in the River Rhondda in April by local youths, two days after some of his clothes were found at a river bridge near his home. |
| Glamorgan Valleys coroner Philip Walters said he had probably fallen in the water after drinking and taking drugs. | Glamorgan Valleys coroner Philip Walters said he had probably fallen in the water after drinking and taking drugs. |
| Mr Walters said there was no evidence to suggest Mr Richards had taken his own life or that foul play was involved. | Mr Walters said there was no evidence to suggest Mr Richards had taken his own life or that foul play was involved. |
| The inquest heard Mr Richards, who had alcohol problems, had been picked up by police at a Chinese takeaway in Gelli, Rhondda, on 23 April 2007. | The inquest heard Mr Richards, who had alcohol problems, had been picked up by police at a Chinese takeaway in Gelli, Rhondda, on 23 April 2007. |
| The family of Christopher Richards say they believe police could have done more | The family of Christopher Richards say they believe police could have done more |
| Police believed he was "under the influence of intoxicants" and he was examined by paramedics, but not arrested. | Police believed he was "under the influence of intoxicants" and he was examined by paramedics, but not arrested. |
| After failing to get an answer at his parents' house, he was taken to the home of David Evans Jr in Clarence Street, Ton Pentre. | After failing to get an answer at his parents' house, he was taken to the home of David Evans Jr in Clarence Street, Ton Pentre. |
| Mr Evans, an alcoholic who had only seen Mr Richards once in the past two years, told the inquest he remembered walking him most of the way home and had left him by a nursing home. | Mr Evans, an alcoholic who had only seen Mr Richards once in the past two years, told the inquest he remembered walking him most of the way home and had left him by a nursing home. |
| Mr Evans was arrested on suspicion of murder but released without charge. | Mr Evans was arrested on suspicion of murder but released without charge. |
| Sgt Robert Miles told the inquest he had gone to Mr Richards' home, but there was no answer. | |
| Officers had then called the last number to ring Mr Richards which was David Evans Jr. | Officers had then called the last number to ring Mr Richards which was David Evans Jr. |
| He said Mr Evans had agreed for Mr Richards to be dropped off at his home, but Mr Evans, who had been drinking all day, told the inquest he did not remember receiving the call. | He said Mr Evans had agreed for Mr Richards to be dropped off at his home, but Mr Evans, who had been drinking all day, told the inquest he did not remember receiving the call. |
| Sgt Miles was asked why he had not taken Mr Richards with him when he went to the family home. | Sgt Miles was asked why he had not taken Mr Richards with him when he went to the family home. |
| "He was with the paramedics receiving treatment," he responded. | "He was with the paramedics receiving treatment," he responded. |
| Sgt Miles added he knocked on the door but got no response. He also said he believed a second officer Pc Claire Radford could not find a home number on Mr Richards' mobile. | Sgt Miles added he knocked on the door but got no response. He also said he believed a second officer Pc Claire Radford could not find a home number on Mr Richards' mobile. |
| He said he was unaware that Mr Evans was an alcoholic. | He said he was unaware that Mr Evans was an alcoholic. |
| Responding to a question from Mr Walters, Sgt Miles said Mr Richards had not been taken into custody for being drunk and incapable because he had been examined by paramedics and appeared to be recovering. | Responding to a question from Mr Walters, Sgt Miles said Mr Richards had not been taken into custody for being drunk and incapable because he had been examined by paramedics and appeared to be recovering. |
| "He was drunk but he was not so drunk that he was causing problems to be arrested," said Sgt Miles. | "He was drunk but he was not so drunk that he was causing problems to be arrested," said Sgt Miles. |
| Home Office pathologist Andrew Davison said Mr Richards' body had evidence of trauma to the face consistent with the impact to a rough surface, but assault could not be excluded. Police had picked up Christopher Richards at a takeaway in Gelli | Home Office pathologist Andrew Davison said Mr Richards' body had evidence of trauma to the face consistent with the impact to a rough surface, but assault could not be excluded. Police had picked up Christopher Richards at a takeaway in Gelli |
| Toxicology reports showed Mr Richards would have been almost twice the legal alcohol limit for driving and had taken prescription and non prescription drugs including valium, Prozac and tamazepan, the pathologist said. | Toxicology reports showed Mr Richards would have been almost twice the legal alcohol limit for driving and had taken prescription and non prescription drugs including valium, Prozac and tamazepan, the pathologist said. |
| The cause of death was blunt head injury and immersion drowning compounded by alcohol and other substances. | The cause of death was blunt head injury and immersion drowning compounded by alcohol and other substances. |
| Mr Walters concluded: "There has to be some query that they {police} made a decision at the time but I did query whether they felt he should have been arrested and taken into custody. | Mr Walters concluded: "There has to be some query that they {police} made a decision at the time but I did query whether they felt he should have been arrested and taken into custody. |
| "If that had happened that could have solved it I think." | "If that had happened that could have solved it I think." |
| After the inquest, Mr Richards' father Robert criticised police for taking their son to Mr Evans instead of contacting them using their son's mobile. | After the inquest, Mr Richards' father Robert criticised police for taking their son to Mr Evans instead of contacting them using their son's mobile. |
| "I think the police let my son down. His phone had Dad and home numbers on it. They shouldn't have called the last number he had received," he said. | "I think the police let my son down. His phone had Dad and home numbers on it. They shouldn't have called the last number he had received," he said. |
| Mr Richards' mother Susan had complained to the IPCC. | Mr Richards' mother Susan had complained to the IPCC. |
| A spokesman said it supervised an investigation by South Wales Police into the circumstances surrounding Mr Richards' death. | A spokesman said it supervised an investigation by South Wales Police into the circumstances surrounding Mr Richards' death. |
| That investigation rejected the family's complaints. The family's appeal was handled by another IPCC region, which also rejected it. | That investigation rejected the family's complaints. The family's appeal was handled by another IPCC region, which also rejected it. |
| Det Supt Stuart Anderson of South Wales Police added: "This has clearly been a difficult and distressing time for Mrs Richards and we would further extend our condolences to her and the family." | Det Supt Stuart Anderson of South Wales Police added: "This has clearly been a difficult and distressing time for Mrs Richards and we would further extend our condolences to her and the family." |