The family of Nadeem Dean Khan led a 200-strong demonstration through Burnley, Lancashire, on Saturday to protest against the 28-year-old man’s death in police custody.
‘There are a lot of questions to be answered and we are determined to find out the truth,’ the family said in a statement issued through the Independent Police Complaints Commission.
Dean Khan died in hospital after falling ill at Burnley Police Station on 30 June.
The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC), which is investigating the death, said post-mortem tests failed to determine how he died.
Family, friends and members of the community marched through Burnley before gathering outside the police station.
Following their peaceful demonstration, the protesters laid flowers at the site before a two-minute silence in remembrance of his life.
A statement issued on behalf of the family said: ‘The family are deeply distressed at this time. We cannot believe what has happened.
‘Dean was a great son, brother, friend and dad and will be sadly missed by all who knew him.
‘Dean was a very generous person and would do anything for the people he cared about. He was protective of his family and friends.
‘He was the one who everyone turned to in the time of need and the family always felt protected when he was around.
‘We just wish we were there to protect him. He was a loving dad and would do anything for his two daughters Alisha and Jasmine. Dean loved being a family man and his daughters meant the world to him.
‘There are a lot of questions to be answered and we are determined to find out the truth.
‘The IPCC are conducting an independent investigation and we are being kept fully informed about this. We would ask people to wait for the outcome of this investigation and not speculate on what happened to Dean.
‘We would be grateful if the press could leave us alone to grieve at this time.’
Ian Christon, IPCC Regional Communications Officer (North region), said: ‘The IPCC is aware of rumours that six police officers have been suspended as part of this investigation.
‘The IPCC can categorically state that this is not true.
‘The IPCC has a family liaison manager in place with the family. Meetings have been taking place on a daily basis to ensure the family are aware of the progress of our investigation.’
Khan was arrested in Brierfield at about 9am on 30 June after reports of windows being smashed and violent behaviour.
After he became ill he was taken to Burnley General Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 10.30am.
Christon added: ‘A post-mortem was inconclusive.’
