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Three police staff charged over Thomas Orchard death

A police sergeant and two custody detention officers have been charged over the death of a man who'd been arrested in Exeter.

The three staff are accused of manslaughter and misconduct in public office.

32 year-old Thomas Orchard, a paranoid schizophrenic, was arrested in October 2012 and detained in a police cell at Heavitree Road police station.

He was later found to be unwell and taken to hospital where he died several days later, having suffered swelling of the brain.

Following an inquiry by the Independent Police Complaints Commision, the  Crown Prosecution Service has decided to charge custody sergeant Jan Kingshott, and detention officers Simon Tansley and Michael Marsden.

The IPCC is continuing to investigate whether the Devon and Cornwall force has committed health and safety offences.

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