78-year-old dies in police custody in Paris – IGPN takes over investigation

Paris – 02.07.2026: A 78-year-old man was found dead on Wednesday in a cell of the police station in Paris’s 20th arrondissement. According to the Paris public prosecutor’s office, officers immediately provided first aid and used a defibrillator. The resuscitation attempts, however, were unsuccessful. The man had been taken into police custody the day before; the custody measure had been extended on the morning of the day of death.

Early media reports circulate allegations from family members about the reasons for the detention, which have not yet been legally confirmed. Official details about the procedure and the man’s health before and during custody are not currently available. The identity of the deceased was initially not released for privacy reasons.

The public prosecutor’s office has commissioned the Inspection générale de la police nationale (IGPN) to investigate. This internal oversight body routinely examines deaths or serious incidents related to police operations in France. The focus is on procedures in the station, chains of documentation, compliance with regulations on fitness for custody, and the timing of checks in the cell. Forensic technicians secured traces at the scene; further forensic examinations are to provide information on the cause and time of death.

According to judicial sources, relatives were informed. Investigators are currently questioning the officers involved as well as medical personnel who were on duty. At the same time, it is being checked whether video recordings from the corridors or access areas exist and whether the regular visual checks in the cell were properly documented. An autopsy is considered likely to assess natural causes, pre-existing medical conditions, or possible third-party involvement.

The incident once again brings the standards of police custody into focus. In France, specific regulations apply to being taken into custody, including health checks, record-keeping obligations, and access to medical care. In the past, deaths in cells have led to debates about structural facilities, staff training, and deadlines for medical examinations. Whether there were violations of regulations in the current case is unclear; authorities point to the ongoing investigations.

The public prosecutor’s office announced that it would publish further information once established findings are available. Until then, investigators ask for restraint regarding speculation. Results of the IGPN review and forensic examinations will be decisive in determining whether an ordinary death occurred or whether criminal or disciplinary steps should be initiated.