West Hills Mall Recounts Death Of Man Per CCTV Footage
West Hills Mall has recounted the series of events that led to the death of a man earlier this week as shown in CCTV footage.
The young man by name Shadrack Arloo, a brother of Ghanaian Gospel musician Perpetual Didier, allegedly died during an encounter with a police officer at the mall on Monday, January 30, 2023.
The gospel musician who recounted the incident in a viral video alleged the police officer’s action contributed to the death of “innocent” Shadrack who was fit while leaving home for the mall.
The police service has since initiated investigations into the conduct of the said officer.
In a press statement issued by Olympio Agbodza, the Assistant Asset manager of the Mall, an account of the incident is recounted based on 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. 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.”
Also based on eyewitness accounts the management of the mall have gathered, Shadrack was approached by the officer around 3pm and was asked to present his bag for a search.
It continued, “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”.
In a viral video, Perpetual Didier, a Ghanaian gospel musician, identified the deceased as Shadrack Arloo.
According to her, he went to the mall and withdrew some money to shop for some items he had to travel with to Germany.
“My brother went to the West Hills Mall to shop. He went to withdraw some money. After that, he met a police officer who asked for his bag for a search. He resisted for fear that the officer might plant illicit drugs in his bag and therefore demanded they proceed to a police station”, she recounted in a Facebook live session on her page.
She continued, “so the police officer physically assaulted him and he fell motionless in the process.”
According to her, the officer further used a taser on him which subsequently led to his death.
“I need justice”, she cried out.
The Police in a statement on Tuesday said its attention has been drawn to the video and further disclosed that the Police Professional Standard Bureau (PPSB) has commenced investigations into the allegation.
“We would like to assure the general public of a thorough investigation into the matter.”
Meanwhile Management of the mall says it is “shocked by this ill-fated incident”.
Source: opemsuo.com/Hajara Fuseini