The management of West Hills Mall has confirmed that the incident which resulted in the death of Shadrach Arloo, the 32-year-old man last Monday, happened at their premises at Weija in Accra.
However, according to the management, eyewitness account including that of its security personnel indicate that, Shadrach Arloo resisted an arrest by a police officer who suspected he was in possession of drugs or banned substances.
Swallowed something
In a statement issued by Olympio Agbodza, the Assistant Asset Manager, West Hills Mall alleged that Shadrach Arloo, “removed something from his bag and swallowed it as the policeman approached him,” according to what eyewitnesses have told the management.
Confirming that the incident happened at their premises on Monday afternoon (January 30, 2023) at 3:15 pm, they said Shadrach Arloo who was a “visitor” at the premises was confronted by a Police Officer and asked to present his bag for examination.
“The Police Officer ostensibly suspected the customer, a young man between 25 and 30 years [Shadrach], of possessing drugs or banned substances,” West Hills Mall indicated in the statement.
It said the accounts indicate that “the young man hesitated, removed something from his bag and swallowed it as the policeman approached him.”
No response to tasing allegation
it had been alleged that Shadrach was beaten and tased but the West Hills statement was silent on that allegation.
It had also been alleged that the security at the mall applied the taser and that allegation too was not responded to in the press statement.
Another account had said it was rather the police man who tased Shadrach, that allegation is also yet to be responded to or clarified.
His sister, Perpetual Didier, a gospel musician told Graphic Online last Tuesday that, before the encounter, Shadrach had gone to withdraw money per what the family has been told by an eyewitness and was also at the Mall to buy certain items, which he was to take along with him to Germany the next day.
CCTV footage
“West Hills Mall’s 24-hour security surveillance system captured footage of the officer apprehending the young man, as well as another man who accompanied him, as they headed for the main entrance of the mall,” the statement added.
“In an attempt to handcuff the young man, a struggle between the parties ensued while the Police Officer tried to handcuff him.
“He was eventually handcuffed but stopped struggling and appeared unwell after that. The Police subsequently removed the cuffs from his hands, and Mall Security arranged for transportation for him to be taken to the medical facility on-site. Sadly, he was pronounced dead by Medics upon arrival.”
The Weija District Police have since retrieved the body of the deceased, the West Hills Mall management added.
Related: ‘Policeman’ allegedly tases man to death at West Hills Mall
Background
Shadrach Arloo, 32, was scheduled to travel to Germany on Tuesday, but 24-hours before that journey, he had an encounter with the policeman and private security personnel that resulted in his death.
He was allegedly beaten and tased to death by one of the said men, according to some eyewitness.
His sister, Perpetual Didier, a gospel musician told Graphic Online that, an eyewitness told the family that Shadrach was tased.
She claimed Shadrach had gone to the mall for shopping and that he was there to buy some items he was expected to carry along to Germany for his elder sister – this sister had facilitated his documentation and travel.
On his way out of the mall premises, he was reportedly confronted by the said policeman.
The policeman is said to have demanded that he hands over his luggage for a search.
He rejected and insisted he was not going to do so.
His explanation, according to the eyewitnesses was that he suspected that the police can plant something in it to incriminate him.
According to the sister, the eyewitnesses told the family that, Shadrach insisted that if they really wanted to search his bag, he was ready to go with them to the nearest police station for that purpose.
This resulted in an altercation, during which Shadrach was reportedly beaten and tased, resulting in his death, the sister alleged.
The case has since been reported at the SCC Police station and the body has been deposited at the Police Hospital morgue in Accra.
According to Perpetual, Shadrach had concluded all his documentation and was scheduled to travel to Germany on Tuesday (January 31, 2023) to join his sister.
Police statement
The police in a press statement issued Tuesday night (Jan 31, 2023) said the Police Professional Standards Bureau (PPSB) has commenced an investigation into the allegation and has contacted Perpetual Didier to assist with the investigation.
“We would like to assure the public of a thorough investigation into the matter,” a statement signed by Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Mr Victor K. Dosoo for the Director of Police Public Affairs said.
It said the police’s attention was drawn to the video of Perpetual Didier on social media in which she alleged that a police officer has caused the death of her brother.
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Below is a copy of the statement from West Hills Mall
PRESS STATEMENT
Incident at West Hills Mall on Monday, January 30, 2023
The Management of West Hills Mall hereby confirms that an incident occurred on its premises in the afternoon of Monday, January 30, 2023 which unfortunately resulted in a fatality.
By eyewitness and mall security personnel accounts, at approximately 3:15pm on January 30, 2023, a visitor was confronted by a Police Officer and asked to present his bag for examination. The Police Officer ostensibly suspected the customer, a young man between 25 and 30 years, of possessing drugs or banned substances. The accounts indicate that the young man hesitated, removed something from his bag and swallowed it as the policeman approached him.
West Hills Mall’s 24-hour security surveillance system captured footage of the officer apprehending the young man, as well as another man who accompanied him, as they headed for the main entrance of the mall. In an attempt to handcuff the young man, a struggle between the parties ensued while the Police Officer tried to handcuff him.
He was eventually handcuffed but stopped struggling and appeared unwell after that. The Police subsequently removed the cuffs from his hands, and Mall Security arranged for transportation for him to be taken to the medical facility on-site. Sadly, he was pronounced dead by Medics upon arrival.
The Weija District Police have since retrieved the body of the deceased.
The Management of West Hills Mall is shocked by this ill-fated incident. We convey our sincerest condolences to the deceased’s family as we trust that the Police will handle the matter further.
Thank You.Olympio Agbodza
Assiastant Asset Manager,