FIVE officers are being investigated by the police watchdog following the death of a man in custody.

Ellis Rocks died in hospital on August 3 after being found unresponsive in custody two days earlier.

The 26-year-old had been arrested at 8.30pm at the Britannia Hotel in Standish, Wigan, on July 31.

Mr Rocks was handcuffed and searched before being transferred to custody, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) watchdog said.

An ambulance was called by detention officers in the early hours the following day when he was seen to be unresponsive and lying on the floor.

Paramedics arrived, but he suffered a cardiac arrest on route to the hospital and was pronounced dead at 7.20am.

Two Greater Manchester Police officers are being investigated for potential gross misconduct, the IOPC said.

A further three are under investigation for potential breaches of police standards of professional behaviour at the level of misconduct.

An IOPC statement said that “no concerns” had been identified regarding any use of force by officers.

The watchdog said it had reviewed CCTV from the custody suite and officers’ body-worn video footage involved in the arrest.

IOPC director Amanda Rowe said: “While we’ve notified a number of officers they are under investigation, this does not mean that disciplinary proceedings will automatically follow.

“At the end of our investigation, we will determine whether any individuals should face disciplinary proceedings.

“It’s important that we continue to carry out an independent and thorough investigation to establish the full circumstances surrounding this incident.”

In a post on Facebook, Mr Rocks’ mother Paula Wilkie said: “Ellis has badly been let down by the system and our hearts break, but we will get him justice.”

Earlier this month, police said in a statement that Mr Rocks had been arrested on suspicion of drug offences and in connection with an investigation into an assault in London.

The statement added: “The arrest did not come in connection with any protest activity.

“The man was arrested at a location which does not house asylum-seekers, and there were no protests in relation to this in Wigan on the day the man was taken into custody.”