A postmortem examination on the body of 30-year-old Otis Jordan, who died while in the lockups at the Cove and John Police Station on the East Coast Demerara (ECD), has found the cause of death to be peritonitis.
According to a statement from the Guyana Police Force (GPF) issued today, peritonitis is an infection of the abdomen, caused by a perforated stomach ulcer.
The postmortem was conducted earlier today by Government Pathologist Dr. Nehaul Singh at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) mortuary. The GPF also reported that specimens were taken from Jordan’s body for a toxicology report.
Death in Police Custody Under Investigation
Jordan, a block maker of South Haslington, ECD, died in police custody on Tuesday.
Investigators said the circumstances surrounding his death are being examined under a probe launched by the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR). As part of that investigation, two police ranks attached to the station have been placed under close arrest.
Jordan had been in custody since Friday last on a domestic violence allegation. He was scheduled to make his court appearance on Tuesday, but he died in the early hours of that day.
Police previously reported that Jordan became unresponsive in the lock-ups shortly after midnight on Tuesday, after complaining that he was feeling unwell. He was taken to Enmore Regional Hospital, treated, and returned to custody. The GPF stated that he later complained again of feeling unwell, became unresponsive once more, and was rushed back to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.
