A man who died during a drugs raid by police in the Letham area of Perth on Friday has been named as 37-year-old Stuart Sandeman.
He collapsed as police executed a warrant in a flat on Struan Road at 3.20pm. Despite attempts by police and paramedics to revive him, he died in the flat, which is just yards from two primary schools.
Police said his death was being treated as “unexplained” and investigations will continue.
A police officer was stationed outside the block of flats throughout Friday as CID and scene of crime officers carried out a forensic examination.
A spokesman said, “Tayside Police were attending at a flat in Perth’s Struan Road to execute a drugs warrant at about 3.20pm today when a 37-year-old man collapsed.
“Attempts to resuscitate the man were immediately carried out and continued on the arrival of ambulance staff. However, the efforts of the emergency service staff were not successful and the man was declared dead at the scene.”
He added, “The flat has been secured at this time to allow police inquiries into the full set of circumstances surrounding the man’s death to be carried out.
“The cause of death is being treated as unexplained at this time. As with all sudden deaths a report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal.”
A neighbour said the well-kept residential street was the focus of intense police activity throughout the day, centred on a ground-floor flat in the block of four. Entry was barred by a police officer throughout.
The resident said, “Initially it was just police cars, about the time the schools were getting out, and then a couple of ambulances arrived and then more police. Since then they’ve been coming and going all day and the scenes of crime in white suits have been in and out as well.”
They added, “We’ve asked but they won’t say what’s going on. It’s actually a relatively quiet bit of Letham and this is really unusual.”
Another neighbour was shocked to hear the circumstances.
He said, “That’s the only council-owned block in this part the rest is all privately-owned but it’s never been much bother. Sometimes they can be a bit loud and the police were up once when a young guy and an older guy had a shouting match in the street.
“But they were no trouble and I’m shocked by this.”
As the evening wore on, word spread of the incident and small bands of friends or family gathered outside, visibly upset and pleading to be allowed into the flats.
One said, “I can’t really say anything I’ve just been told and I’m too stunned to speak.”