Bobby Carmichael, 79, said it was a 'nightmare' when he was taken into custody after being arrested on suspicion of murder
A Leicester pensioner's life became a 'nightmare' after police cordoned off his home and arrested him for murder. Bobby Carmichael, 79, endured 15 hours in custody before being informed the 'victim', discovered in a city park, had died of natural causes.
Mr Carmichael, from Beaumont Leys, said he and a female companion were taken into custody after she stumbled upon a body at Castle Gardens, Leicester, on the evening of Thursday, May 7. He has expressed his fury after police issued an apology and released him without charge . Leicestershire Police launched a murder inquiry and sealed off the entire park after the man's body was discovered in a bush shortly before 8pm, reports Leicestershire Live .
Two individuals were arrested on suspicion of murder - a 46 year old woman and Bobby, both from Leicester. A post-mortem examination ultimately determined that the man, who was in his 40s, had died following a suspected medical episode. Following this development, police confirmed that the investigation had been stood down on Friday, May 8, and that both individuals arrested had been released with no further action taken.
Mr Carmichael said his companion had entered the park to search for a doll she believed she had misplaced the previous night when she made the discovery. He told LeicestershireLive: 'My friend who I was with said she lost something of hers - a doll - the night before.
'I waited in the car, and as she was coming back, she saw the body. I don't know what happened with my friend, but she found what she was looking for, and while she was looking, she saw this body. I told her to phone the police.
' Mr Carmichael and his friend returned to his home in Beaumont Leys and were settled in front of the television when there was a knock at the door. 'After about 9pm, the police came round. They took my friend away, and she never came back. I had a policeman here watching me, and then one of them came in and just said, 'Alright, let's go'.
' He said he initially had no clue as to the identity of the deceased man, only later learning it was someone he had been acquainted with for years through his work as a taxi driver in Leicester. Mr Carmichael said: 'I'd known him for a long time, but I didn't know it was him. He was a good friend, but we fell out. I was gutted when I found out who it was.
' He described his period in custody as 'a nightmare' and branded the police response as 'over the top', expressing concern about the police cordon erected at his property. Mr Carmichael said: 'The police apologised to me as I was picked up for nothing and locked up for the night. Fifteen hours.
'I just can't believe it. It's a disgrace. Fifteen hours, and they came in and just said they were sorry. You phone the police to tell them there's a body there, and you end up getting banged up.
'You never know who's going to see it and turn up outside. That's the lowest of the low, really, when you're innocent and don't know what they're doing. It was vile and just horrible. The police apologised to me, but it's too late for that.
' Leicestershire Police confirmed an investigation will be carried out on behalf of HM Coroner to establish the circumstances surrounding the man's death. Detective Inspector Lorna Granville, the senior investigating officer, explained that officers were duty-bound to make the arrests based on the information they had at the time. She stated that cordoning off the area and making the arrests were lawful actions, carried out in line with the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984.
DI Granville revealed that following Friday's post-mortem examination, which determined the man had died as a result of a suspected medical episode, both individuals were released without further action. She added that officers had since met with those who were arrested to clarify why the actions were required and 'acknowledged the distress the situation may have caused them'. Ensure our latest headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as Preferred Source.
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