Officers failed overdosing man, inquest told

An inquest has heard police and ambulance officers failed in their duty of care for a man who died in police custody in November 2005.

Fifty-three-year-old Michael Llewellyn called Campbelltown Hospital to tell them he had taken an overdose of the prescription medications Colgout and Progout.

When police and ambulance officers arrived at his home, he was deemed fit to be taken into custody and was arrested and charged with public mischief.

The inquest has heard Mr Llewellyn repeatedly threatened self-harm and was a habitual caller of emergency services.

He was taken to hospital after a medical assessment in custody, but died the next day.

An investigating officer, Detective Sergeant Robert Tunks, said he did not believe Mr Llewellyn's arrest was appropriate, but he conceded the officers had acted in good faith.