A man was tragically killed in a hit-and-run incident after being left barefoot in the street by police officers three miles away from his home. The incident occurred when police responded to a call from the wife of Gareth Roper, a father of six, reporting his unusual behavior on New Year’s Day 2022. Roper was initially taken into custody but was released shortly after and left outside a store without any belongings.
Wearing only his boxer shorts, Roper was left to walk home alone by officers, who also left his clothing on the road. Tragically, he was struck by a vehicle driven by Jamie Evans and succumbed to head injuries at the scene, leading to Evans being sentenced to nine years in prison in 2023.
Following a misconduct hearing, Greater Manchester Police Sergeant David Wood was found guilty of breaching professional standards and was demoted to the rank of Police Constable. Additionally, a former sergeant and two Police Constables involved in the arrest were also found to have committed misconduct and will undergo training to enhance their performance.
Despite passing evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service for potential charges against the officers, no charges were filed. The Independent Office for Police Conduct expressed condolences to Roper’s family and emphasized the importance of police accountability and duty of care towards individuals in custody. The findings were also shared with the coroner to aid in the investigative process.
