Police say they have launched ann investigation to determine the circumstances that led to the death of a 36-year-old prisoner, who died at hospital following an incident at prison last Thursday.
In a statement, the police said preliminary investigations indicate that Rashawn Shabazz ‘became aggressive and barricaded himself inside his cell, after prison officers attempted to escort him for a scheduled medical assessment. ‘After several attempts to have the matter peacefully resolved failed, the prison authorities requested police assistance,’ the statement said, adding that ‘the inmate reportedly continued to resist and threaten officers, resulting in the use of non-lethal measures to remove him safely from the cell’.
The police said that Shabazz was subsequently transported to the Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre, where medical personnel immediately attended to him.
‘Despite efforts by medical staff to resuscitate him, he was pronounced dead,’ the police said, extending ‘sincere condolences’ to his family and reassuring ‘them that a full inquiry will be carried out into the incident’.