from Birmingham Mail
25th November 2009

A man died in police custody in Birmingham because of the way he was restrained, a medical expert told an inquest jury.

Officers used CS gas and physical force to control father-of-three Michael Powell after he smashed windows at his mother’s home in Wilton Street, Lozells, in September 2003. He was eventually handcuffed, bundled into a van and taken to Thornhill Road police station in Handsworth where he died after suffering a cardiac arrest. It is not known if Mr Powell, 38, was forced to lie face down or on his side in the police van.

from Birmingham Mail
24th November 2009

A health specialist said “not enough” medical evidence was collected after a Birmingham man died in police custody, an inquest jury heard.

Michael Powell, aged 38, was taken to Thornhill Road Police Station, in Handsworth, after he was arrested for causing a disturbance outside his Lozells home. He died while in police cells on September 6, 2003.

The father-of-three had carried the sickle cell trait, a genetic blood disorder which, when coupled with severe physical exertion, can lead to sudden death.

from Birmingham Post
18th November 2009

A Birmingham man who died in police custody carried the sickle cell trait which could have played a part in his death, a tribunal heard.

Michael Powell, aged 38, carried the trait which according to research, coupled with severe physical exertion, could lead to sudden death. Mr Powell, was taken to Thornhill Road Police Station in Handsworth, after causing damage to his mother’s home in Wilton Road, Lozells, on September 6, 2003.

The father-of-three, who had a history of mental illness and drug problems, died while in police custody. His family have maintained that the police’s behaviour during the arrest was racially-motivated and he would have been treated differently had he been white.