Man dies by suicide while in custody at Providence Police Station

Lloyd David, a 56-year-old mason from Eccles, East Bank Demerara, who was arrested by the police on Sunday afternoon and placed into the ‘lock-up’ at the Providence Police Station, has died by suicide.

Police Headquarters reported that David was arrested following a “damning report made against him by his 32-year-old wife, who visited the Providence Police Station around 14:00 hrs.”

Police escorted the wife to her home, where they arrested David based on her allegations, including the alleged attempted rape of a minor.

He was arrested, escorted to the Providence Police Station, booked and placed into custody, where he joined two other persons in the lock-ups.

“A few minutes later, he assaulted one of the arrested persons, who had to be sent for medical attention. Due to his violent behaviour, he was placed in a separate cell (by himself). About 30 minutes later, the person in the neighbouring cell shouted that David had committed suicide,” the police reported.

The police said that EMT personnel were summoned, and they found that David had no pulse, after which he was pronounced dead. No other marks of violence were seen on the exposed parts of his body.

Given the circumstances of David’s death, the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) was contacted to investigate the matter.