The sudden death of a Perth man during a drugs raid on his flat on Friday is being independently investigated, Tayside Police have confirmed.
Stewart Sandeman (37) collapsed and died as officers executed a warrant to search his Struan Road flat last week.
A police spokesman confirmed officers from neighbouring Central Police had been called in to examine what happened.
He said, “As is normal in such circumstances, Tayside Police contacted another Scottish police force on Friday to request that they conduct an independent investigation into the full set of circumstances surrounding the incident.
“In light of this, Tayside Police cannot comment further on the incident at this time but can confirm that the procurator fiscal continues to be fully informed of the ongoing investigation.”
Mr Sandeman’s flat was raided shortly after 3pm on Friday and neighbours told The Courier they heard loud “shouts and screams” coming from it.
One, who asked not to be identified, said, “There was a lot of noise, a lot of loud shouting and screaming. We could hear Stewart shouting out. It’s a scandal what happened and it should be looked into.”
The flat is now boarded up with metal shutters over door and windows. A single bouquet had been laid outside.
Mr Sandeman was a well known figure in the local drugs scene and once had almost £50,000 of profits from his dealing seized by the courts.
He hit the headlines in 2003 when his lavish lifestyle was exposed in court documents when the Crown went after his illegally-gained profits, including his house, cars, jewellery and cash.
The move came after he had been jailed for dealing cocaine at T in the Park in 2001 to undercover police.
The authorities initially tried to seize Mr Sandeman’s six cars and his Viewlands Road house.
The court heard he had five bank accounts, from which he paid for luxurious Caribbean holidays and items such as his gold Rolex watch.
In total, they froze £121,000 of assets after he was sentenced to 27 months in prison.
Mr Sandeman insisted during the proceedings he was dealing in cars and jewellery and did not record or declare his income to avoid paying tax and losing out on state benefits.
He claimed his income was higher than disclosed and his outlays far lower than the prosecutors claimed.
Mr Sandeman’s death is still being treated as unexplained.