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Officers who left father-of-three at coach station in early hours face no further action.

Released: Anthony Kostiw dropped off at Milton Keynes Coachway

Date - 3rd December 2018
By - Nick Hudson - Police Oracle

1 Comment

 

Two officers who “de-arrested” a drunk man and dropped him at a coach station two days before he was found dead have been cleared of gross misconduct allegations.

Father-of-three Anthony Kostiw was originally detained in the early hours of January 3 by PCs Rebecca Wade and Johan Stevens.

The 35-year-old was released shortly afterwards and left at the Milton Keynes Coachway – several miles from his home.

A misconduct hearing at Thames Valley Police headquarters in Kidlington, Oxfordshire was told that the officers did not believe Mr Kostiw was impaired, or at risk, as the terminus is open all night.

His body was found in water nearby on January 5.

The officers were responding to a 999 domestic violence report when they arrested Mr Kostiw for breach of the peace, panel chairman Chiew Yin Jones was told.

Accused of gross misconduct for leaving him at the coach station with £10, while not properly investigating if he was under the influence of drugs – the panel heard the officers had breached the standards of professional behaviour in relation to duties and responsibilities, orders and instructions, authority, respect and courtesy and discreditable conduct.

And his partner of 17 years, Carol Attridge, wrote on the Justice for Anthony Kostiw Facebook page: "There was a bad storm that night. Anthony was drunk and unsteady on his feet at time of arrest.

“Why was he not taken to the police station, or wasn't he brought home?"

But the two-day case – directed to a hearing by the Independent Office for Police Conduct – heard it was not up to the force to ensure someone could reach their destination and concluded that the actions of PCs Wade and Stephens did not amount to gross misconduct.

The pair will not face any further action.

A full inquest into Mr Kostiw’s death is still due to be held.

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[Growley + 2,436]

Common sense prevails.

[Indiana Jones + 1,082]

Unfortunate that it took a year to get to that conclusion.