Death in custody in Saint-Ouen: Mauricio K.'s family alleges violence, police watchdog investigates

Mauricio K., 44, died on Tuesday 27 October while in police custody at the Saint-Ouen police station (Seine-Saint-Denis). The Bobigny prosecutor's office cites cardiorespiratory failure. His family, which suspects police violence, has filed a complaint. The General Inspectorate of the National Police (IGPN) is in charge of the investigation.

Of Angolan origin, Mauricio K. had lived in France since the age of 8 and worked as a painter, according to AFP. He had been arrested the day before by the municipal police for public insult, threats and insulting a person holding public authority, HuffPost reports, citing AFP and Le Parisien. His placement in custody had been delayed because of his blood alcohol level.

The prosecutor's account

According to the Bobigny prosecutor's office, quoted by franceinfo, the man saw two doctors just after his arrest and during the night, "given his condition, as he was very drunk". The doctors "had not noticed anything in particular". After a first interview he was taken back to his cell, where he was found unconscious in the afternoon. "Despite the intervention of the fire brigade, he died," the prosecutor's office told Actu17 (quotes translated from French).

The prosecutor's office opened an inquiry into the causes of death and referred it to the IGPN, a step it describes as standard when someone dies in custody. The preliminary autopsy findings show "no traumatic injuries explaining the death". Toxicology and anatomopathology tests are still to be carried out. According to AJ+, the prosecutor's office also mentions a history of heart problems. A source close to the investigation quoted by AFP said the autopsy points, for now, to a natural death.

The family's account

On Wednesday 28 October, Mauricio K.'s father filed a complaint with the Bobigny prosecutor for intentional violence causing death without intent to kill, committed by a person holding public authority. His lawyer, Yassine Bouzrou, says that "serious violence was committed during the arrest", and possibly inside the police station. He stresses that his client had no serious illness that could explain a sudden death.

The lawyer rejects the heart explanation. "Nobody believes it," he told Le Parisien. He denounces the "deafening silence" of the prosecutor's office and the IGPN, saying the autopsy results have not been shared with him. The family is asking for a judicial investigation to be opened and an investigating judge to be appointed. According to AJ+, it has also issued an appeal for witnesses.

At this stage neither account has been established: the IGPN investigation is continuing and the further tests are pending.