The evening of 20 February quickly took a turn for the worst when a male suspect in the holding cells of the Roodepoort Police Station was declared dead at about 5pm.
The Record was informed about this incident by a resident who was prevented from attending to a relative who was in the holding cells at the time of this incident.
“One of the detainees passed away. The medical team at the scene said it was due to natural causes. The body of the deceased was transferred to the morgue for a forensic autopsy,” said Captain Sonja Prinsloo, who was the duty officer on that day.
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According to Prinsloo, the police officers followed procedure and questioned every detainee in the same holding cell, before the body could be removed.
“In this case, the family of the suspect was informed as soon as possible. The deceased’s brother was contacted and he requested further investigation,” Prinsloo concluded.
An inquest was opened and the death is still under investigation.
