An investigation into the actions of two Metropolitan Police officers involved in a fatal Taser incident on Chelsea Bridge in 2022 has concluded with no indication of misconduct, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has announced.

The inquiry followed the death of 41-year-old Oladeji Omishore, who died on 4 June 2022 after falling into the River Thames during a mental health crisis, shortly after being Tasered multiple times by police.

An inquest jury, which concluded today at Inner West London Coroner’s Court, delivered a narrative verdict, stating Mr Omishore was experiencing a mental health relapse at the time and that while he was seen running from police, it could not be concluded that officers’ actions probably caused his death.

Rapid and Distressing Incident

According to the IOPC, the events unfolded in just 68 seconds after police were called to reports of a man acting erratically and possibly armed on Chelsea Bridge. Seven 999 calls from the public had described a man shouting and holding what was believed to be a screwdriver or knife. It was later determined Mr Omishore was holding a metal and plastic lighter.

Body-worn video captured one officer using a Taser on Mr Omishore five times in total. The first three discharges were during attempts to get him to drop the object and comply with orders. The final two occurred as he ran towards and jumped over the bridge railings. The last Taser discharge did not make contact.

Mr Omishore fell into the river and was pulled from the water by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) with assistance from Metropolitan Police marine officers. He died later that evening in hospital. His cause of death was confirmed as complications from drowning.

IOPC Investigation Findings

The IOPC confirmed it found no evidence of criminal conduct or breaches of professional standards by the officers involved. Investigators accepted the officers’ belief that they were responding to a potential terror incident, especially given the heightened security alert during the Queen’s Jubilee weekend.

IOPC Director Amanda Rowe stated:

"This was a fast-paced and distressing incident. The officers honestly and reasonably believed Mr Omishore was in possession of a weapon. While tragic, their use of force was not found to be unnecessary or disproportionate."

The IOPC also found no evidence of discrimination based on Mr Omishore’s race or mental health.

However, it did criticise the Met’s initial public statement, which said the Taser was used to "safely detain" Mr Omishore—a statement the IOPC said was premature and undermined the independence of their investigation.

Officers Criticised for Witness Conduct

While no misconduct was found in relation to the incident itself, the IOPC separately investigated both officers for their lack of cooperation during the investigation. In November 2022, they refused to answer questions during formal interviews, instead submitting incomplete written statements weeks later.

The IOPC concluded the officers had a case to answer for failing to uphold duties and responsibilities but that it was not serious enough to warrant disciplinary proceedings. Instead, the IOPC recommended the reflective practice review process be used to address their non-cooperation.

"By law, police officers have a responsibility to cooperate appropriately during investigations," said Ms Rowe.
"In this case, we acknowledge they acted on misguided advice from federation representatives and later provided some cooperation. However, this should not have occurred."

A Family’s Loss

Mr Omishore’s family had lodged a formal complaint following the incident, raising concerns about excessive force, potential discrimination, and how the Met publicly framed the situation.

Ms Rowe expressed condolences:

"This was a terrible tragedy. Our thoughts remain with Mr Omishore’s family, who have shown great dignity throughout the process."

The full IOPC investigation report is now available to the public following the conclusion of the inquest.

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