Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver
Police officers failed to recognise a man was unwell in custody before his death four years ago, the Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA), has found.
Gang member, Taranaki Fuimaono, 43, was admitted to Auckland Hospital in June of 2021 after complaining about abdominal pain and shortness of breath.
After being admitted he was put into an induced coma so staff could conduct tests, while staff were removing his clothes they found a concealed package.
The package was found to contain 24 grams of Methamphetamine.
Fuimaono was arrested for possession of methamphetamine and taken into police custody the following day.
But while in the cells, Fuimaono's condition deteriorated.
The IPCA said he had been moving freely and talking to officers before appearing drowsy, physically agitated and unsteady on his feet.
He was reportedly sweating profusely and visibly struggling to breathe.
Just after midnight, staff found Fuimaono unresponsive in his cell.
Police staff began performing CPR, and he was taken back to Auckland Hospital where he died a few hours later.
The IPCA said police failed to adequately monitor Fuimaono and should have given him medical treatment earlier.
He had been placed on two hourly checks, something the IPCA found to be an inadequate monitoring regime.
It said officers had CCTV available they could have used to check on Fuimaono, and that he should have received medical treatment earlier.
Police were initially charged for breaches of the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 by WorkSafe, before charges were withdrawn in August 2024.
The IPCA said an expert medical opinion showed Fuimaono's death may have been unavoidable, and he may have died regardless of where he was.
"The autopsy report says the cause of death was the 'combined effects of obesity, hypertension and obstructive sleep apnoea in a setting of methamphetamine and tramadol use,'" the IPCA report said.
Police Relieving Auckland City District Commander Inspector Grae Anderson said staff training had been updated as a direct result of what occurred.
"Police have a duty of care to those who come into our custody, and we acknowledge there were learnings from this incident," he said.
He said staff now gave stronger weighting to recent hospital admissions when assessing the level of care for detainees, and have implemented significant changes over the last few years to improve their custody units.
"Including the creation of a National Custody Team (NCT) which provides national oversight of the policy, practice, and training for all Police staff," Anderson said.
At the time of his death, Fuimaono a senior member of the Head Hunters motrocycle gang.
His funeral in Auckland's Grey Lynn was attended by hundreds and saw Auckland's main roads jammed with traffic.
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