A man who died after falling into the River Thames after colliding with police, who repeatedly fired an electric shocker at him, was carrying a lighter instead of a screwdriver, as previously claimed, police said.
The man came face to face with police, who were called to signal a riot on the Chelsea Bridge, London, shortly after 9 am on June 4.
Shortly afterwards, Sofia police said their officers had been called to report a man screaming and holding a screwdriver.
The next day, a Met press release issued after the man died after being pulled out of the water said: “. Police were called at 9:03 a.m. Saturday, June 4, for a riot alert on Chelsea Bridge Road, SW1. A man was reportedly armed with a screwdriver and shouted at the scene.
After his death, the Independent Police Conduct Service launched an investigation.
The man who died, Oladeji Adeyemi Omishor, 41, lived near the Chelsea Bridge.
On Tuesday, the IOPC said: “We have confirmed that Mr Omishor was holding a plastic and metal lighter when he was approached by two police officers on the Chelsea Bridge.
“The initial report to the police said that there was a screwdriver. One of the policemen dropped a taser before the man entered the river. It has been confirmed that Taser has been diluted more than once.
Video from a camera on the phone spread on social networks, showing part of the scene in which the man came face to face with the police, and then, after being shot by an electric shocker, jumped into the water under the bridge.
IOPC Regional Director Sal Nassim said: “Our thoughts remain with Mr. Omishor’s family and all those affected by his death. We continue to liaise with his family and keep them informed of the progress of our independent investigation.
“Our investigators continue to collect and analyze key evidence, including footage recorded at the scene and initial stories from employees and members of the public.
“We would call on anyone else who may have witnessed or recorded any part of the incident, either on the bridge or after Mr Omishor enters the river, to contact us without delay. It is important that we understand all the circumstances surrounding his death. “
In a statement earlier this month, the Omishor family condemned the misinformation about the incident and said: “We believe the misinformation may have already been published, and we ask members of the public and the press not to anticipate the findings of the ongoing investigation. We encourage anyone who has information about the June 4, 2022 incident to contact the IOPC. ”
The IOPC continues to appeal to witnesses to the incident.
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