A senior citizen in Leicester experienced a distressing ordeal when police cordoned off his residence and arrested him on suspicion of a homicide. Bobby Carmichael, aged 79, was held in custody for 15 hours until officers informed him that the deceased individual, found in a city park, had actually passed away from natural causes.
Mr. Carmichael, residing in the Beaumont Leys suburb of Leicester, recounted the “disgraceful” sequence of events that led to him and a female companion being detained after she stumbled upon a body in a city park. According to Mr. Carmichael, his friend had entered Castle Gardens in Leicester to search for a lost doll from the previous night when she made the discovery.
After spotting the body, Mr. Carmichael’s friend promptly contacted the authorities. Subsequently, both individuals returned to Mr. Carmichael’s residence where they were interrupted by law enforcement officers. Despite initial confusion about the deceased’s identity, Mr. Carmichael later recognized the individual as someone he had known for years from his taxi driving days in Leicester.
Mr. Carmichael expressed his dismay over the ordeal he endured in police custody, labeling it a “nightmare” and criticizing the police response as excessive. He voiced concerns about the police cordon at his home and expressed frustration over being detained for a significant period before being informed of the situation’s resolution.
Leicestershire Police announced that an inquiry will be conducted by HM Coroner to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the man’s demise. Detective Inspector Lorna Granville, the lead investigator, defended the arrests, stating they were made based on the available information. Following a post-mortem examination indicating the man’s death resulted from a suspected medical episode, both Mr. Carmichael and his friend were released without further action.
DI Granville emphasized that the police’s actions were lawful and conducted in compliance with the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984. She confirmed that the individuals arrested were briefed on the necessity of the actions taken and acknowledged the distress the situation may have caused them.