The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is investigating the death of a 43-year-old man in Bolton who died in hospital after Greater Manchester Police (GMP) officers used a Taser and restrained him, as first reported by the Manchester Evening News.

The incident happened at a house in Halliwell on the evening of Wednesday 7 October. The man has not been named.

What the IOPC has said

According to the IOPC, its initial enquiries indicate that the man was experiencing a mental health crisis. Police had been called to the property on previous occasions, but each time the man refused officers access and did not engage with them.

At about 11.10pm on Wednesday, officers went to the property after receiving a report that the man was threatening to harm himself, and forced entry. The IOPC said an initial review of body-worn video showed that officers found the man injured and appearing to bleed heavily, and that he refused to drop a pair of scissors he was holding.

A short time later an officer discharged a Taser and the man was restrained. Shortly before midnight he lost consciousness and stopped breathing, and officers began CPR. He was taken to hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 3.01am on Thursday 8 October.

The investigation

The IOPC said it sent investigators to the scene after being notified by GMP, and declared an independent investigation at 3.07am. It said the investigation will look at the exact circumstances of the incident, the actions of the officers involved and all previous police contact with the man before his death.

IOPC Director of Engagement Amanda Rowe said the investigation was "in the early stages", and that investigators had secured body-worn video, which will be reviewed along with initial statements from officers.

Sources: IOPC; Manchester Evening News; BBC News. This article was produced with the help of AI tools and checked by an editor against the sources above.