AN investigation has been launched into how a Colchester father-of-five died three days after being arrested.

Stuart Smith, a recovering heroin addict, died of a suspected drugs overdose, although his long-term partner, Nicola Lawson, claims he had been clean for 18 months.

The 37-year-old had been arrested by two police officers in Colchester town centre, on September 14, but died three days later.

As CCTV footage appearing to show officers using “excessive force” towards Mr Smith came to light, police stopped the hearse carrying his body to his funeral, so further tests could take place.

Officers stopped the car in Abbot’s Road, as it travelled to Colchester Crematorium, on October 8, and took his body back to the mortuary at Colchester General Hospital.

Miss Lawson, 28, of Larch Close, Colchester, has hit out at Essex Police for not acting sooner.

The force has offered to pay for the cost of the funeral, but Miss Lawson said nothing could make up for the heartache her family had suffered.

She added: “With all the distress of the funeral anyway, it was just torment. I feel so angry.

“Considering they would have had the CCTV footage weeks ago, why did it take so long for them to take action?

“If they have arrested someone and someone has died after the arrest, they should have got the CCTV footage weeks before the funeral.”

Essex Police confirmed an officer had been suspended and another put on restricted duty.

Nishan Wijeratne, from Essex Police, said: “Police are investigating the circumstances leading up to the death of a 37-year-old man on September 17.

“His death is believed to be related to a drugs overdose. However, the man was arrested three days prior to his death and the Independent Police Complaints Commission has been informed. One officer is on restricted duty and another has been suspended while inquiries continue.”

Mr Wijeratne refused to say why Mr Smith had been arrested or why it had taken three weeks to take his body for tests.