Five Met Police officers are under criminal investigation after a man was restrained and PAVA-sprayed at an Islington hospital, leaving him unconscious.
Police were called to Euston Road on just after 7.30am on April 3 after the man began behaving erratically and setting fire to his clothes.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said officers took the man, in his 50s, to a north London hospital to be assessed but officers attempted to restrain him because he became agitated.
PAVA spray - a form of synthetic pepper spray - was used by the officers.
He became unconscious and was treated in hospital in a critical but stable condition. He was discharged from hospital in May.
Five Met police constables are under criminal investigation for the potential offence of common assault in connection with the incident. They are currently on restricted duties, said the force.
Four of those are also under investigation for potentially inflicting grievous bodily harm and three of them for non-fatal suffocation, an IOPC spokesperson told the Standard.
The five officers are being investigated for potential gross misconduct under the police conduct rules. A further three officers are being investigated for potential misconduct - a lower level than gross misconduct - in connection with the incident.
IOPC director Steve Noonan said: “We have been in contact with the man to inform him of our investigation.
“The serving of criminal or conduct notices on officers does not necessarily mean that criminal charges or disciplinary proceedings will follow.
“It’s important that we continue to carry out an independent and thorough investigation to establish the full circumstances surrounding this incident.
“Following our investigation, we will decide whether to refer the matter to the Crown Prosecution Service to make a charging decision and whether disciplinary proceedings are required.”
The watchdog said it was alerted by the Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards over the incident on the same day.
Police body worn footage and CCTV from the hospital has been seized from the hospital.
Statements have been obtained from some of the officers and witness statements from hospital staff have been taken.
Superintendent Annmarie Cowley, from the Met unit covering Islington, said: “We appreciate this incident will be incredibly concerning to the public.
“Please know we are offering every assistance to the IOPC in their investigation and, due to their important ongoing work, will not be able to comment further at this time.”
