West Midlands Police sacked PC Declan Jones after he was found guilty in August of assault.
An officer of the police who had been sentenced to prison for assaulting a teenage black boy and black bicycle rider while on duty was found murdered at his home by his parents.
His horrified parents found PC Declan Jones at Bromsgrove in Worcestershire, yesterday afternoon. His suicide is suspected.
Following being found guilty by a District Judge in August, the 30-year old was dismissed from West Midlands Police.
CCTV captured him pulling a black 44-year old cyclist across Birmingham, before hitting and kick him. He then pushed his face against the bonnet of an officer’s patrol car in April 2013.
He was caught on camera punching and kicking the black teenager less than 24 hours after he had wrongly accused him of having drug possession in Newtown.
West Mercia Police officers attended Jones’ Bromsgrove home.
According to a spokesperson for the force, they were summoned to Bromsgrove on 28 December after receiving reports about concerns regarding man aged 30.
The man was declared dead around 12:45pm. We do not believe that there was any involvement by any other party in this death. The Coroner will prepare a report.
Jones, pictured in August outside a courtroom in London was indicted in an Independent Office for Police Conduct investigation (IOPC), in October 2020.
Jones (pictured at the top) was captured throwing punches towards this cyclist while riding on the hood of a police car
Coventry Magistrates Court was shown footage by security cameras of PC Jones pulling innocent Michael Rose (44), off his bike on Aston Street, Birmingham. This occurred earlier in the year.
Rose believed Jones had stolen his cell phone. Jones punched Mr Rose three times in his back, while he appeared to bang on the bonnets of the patrol car.
The officer stopped the attack only when the silver Ford Focus drove by the area, disturbing footage shows. As his colleague placed the handcuffs on, the officer appeared to punch the man once more before kneeing him in both the sides. A number of passers-by appealed for Jones to stop. However, Jones responded by slamming Rose against the vehicle.
Jones, who was not identified for legal reasons was captured on video kicking the boy the day after.
Jones grappled in court with the child. Jones said he used reasonable force for self-defence, but was found guilty by Coventry Magistrates Court of unlawful force.
Shamim Qureshi, District Judge, said that the complainants are of good character and rejected Jones’ claim that they only sought compensation. The officer’s use force during both instances was ‘unlawful,’ he said.
He stated that none of the victims went to police immediately to report the assault. The police advised them in the local community that they should have done so.
After the guilty verdicts were announced, Jones was dismissed by Sir David Thompson, West Midlands Police Chief Constable for misconduct.
Sir David stated that Jones’ conduct was clearly below the standards expected from police officers. This is a criminal act that has had a significant impact on West Midlands Police’s public image.
“I fully apologize to the victims of this case. “I can’t see any other sanction than that the officer should be fired without notice.”
Sir David stated that the case was also about a national concern regarding the use force of police officers on black members.
He stated that he and all other members of the force must get this right. Each of us must strive for improvement so that we can erase the damage done by this officer.
Although the Independence Office of Police Conduct investigated the assaults, the board didn’t find Jones guilty of gross misconduct in relation to discrimination claims made by victims.
Jones was freed from prison on December 2.
In November, next year, he would be facing trial for an additional alleged assault.
Trevaile Wyse was accused of actual bodily injury in an incident that involved a Taser.
After an investigation by The Independent Office for Police Conduct, the former officer was arrested.
Jones denied the accusation.
MailOnline received a statement from West Midlands Ambulance Service saying that it was called at 12.44 yesterday to an address on Patch Street, Bromsgrove.
“Three ambulances were dispatched and one paramedic officer arrived to treat a patient suffering from cardiac arrest.” Unfortunately, there was no way to save him and he died on the spot.
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