An inquest has heard how a chaotic pursuit involving police, a suspected burglar, and a university professor ended in the death of a 35-year-old man after a violent confrontation in a quiet Devon neighborhood.
Daniel Smith died after being restrained during an incident that unfolded while officers were attempting to arrest him in Axminster in July 2022.
The hearing at Exeter Coroner’s Court was told that Smith appeared injured, highly agitated, and desperate to evade capture as events spiraled toward a fatal conclusion.
Police Pursuit Began After Burglary Investigation
The chain of events started when officers from Avon and Somerset Police traveled to the Devon-Dorset border area to arrest Smith in connection with a burglary investigation in Yeovil.
According to evidence presented to the court, officers located Smith at a service station in Axminster.
Their vehicles were used to block his car, but Smith managed to escape on foot, launching a frantic chase through residential areas.
Witnesses described him jumping over walls, forcing his way through hedges, and running across private properties as police attempted to catch up with him.
Failed Escape Attempts Through Residential Gardens
The inquest heard that Smith eventually entered the garden of an elderly couple and tried to flee using their Volvo.
However, he was unable to drive away because he did not have the keys.
Still attempting to escape, Smith then moved on to a nearby house that had been left unlocked.
There, he reportedly found a set of car keys before entering a silver Vauxhall Astra parked outside.
It was at this point that the vehicle’s owner, philosophy professor Dr. Charlie Thame, became aware of what was happening.
Professor Confronts Suspected Thief
Dr. Thame told the court he reacted immediately after seeing a stranger attempting to take his car.
He said he felt frightened, angry, and concerned for the safety of his girlfriend, believing the intruder could be dangerous.
The academic described Smith as physically larger than himself and behaving in a manner that reminded him of a trapped animal struggling to escape.
As Smith attempted to drive away, Dr. Thame entered the passenger side of the Astra, with part of his body still outside the vehicle. Moments later, Smith reversed rapidly but crashed into a gate post.
Violent Struggle Inside the Vehicle
Evidence presented to the coroner detailed a fierce confrontation inside the car.
Dr. Thame testified that Smith attempted to strike him and grab his genitals during the struggle.
He also claimed he became alarmed when Smith repeatedly reached toward his waistband, leading him to fear that a weapon might be concealed there.
Attempting to stop Smith from escaping, Dr. Thame said he punched him in the nose and tried to pull him from the vehicle.
During the struggle, he claimed his arm slipped around Smith’s neck, resulting in a headlock.
The confrontation ended when Smith suddenly stopped resisting.
A nearby resident reportedly shouted that Smith had become unconscious, prompting Dr. Thame to immediately release his grip.
Emergency Efforts Follow Collapse
After Smith lost consciousness, he was removed from the vehicle and laid on the ground.
Dr. Thame and others at the scene began CPR while waiting for emergency assistance.
The professor told the court he suspected Smith may have been under the influence of opiates because of symptoms including foaming at the mouth and enlarged pupils.
Witness Deborah Day assisted in efforts to revive Smith after he was pulled from the crashed car.
Dispute Over Use of Force
One of the key issues examined during the inquest involved conflicting witness accounts regarding the restraint used during the incident.
Mrs. Day previously stated that Dr. Thame had placed a knee on Smith’s neck.
However, the professor firmly rejected that claim during his testimony, calling it an inaccurate description of events.
He maintained that he never applied pressure to Smith’s neck with his knee and denied allegations that he repeatedly struck Smith in the head and body.
Dr. Thame told the court he believed his actions were necessary because he feared Smith might drive the vehicle toward his father or others nearby, potentially causing severe injury or death.
He acknowledged that the level of force used increased as the situation escalated but argued that the circumstances left him with little choice.
Father Describes “Wild” Behavior
Dr. Thame’s father, Geoff Thame, also testified, describing Smith as highly distressed and unpredictable.
He told the court that Smith appeared frantic, was frothing at the mouth, and behaved erratically throughout the encounter.
According to Geoff Thame, the suspect’s actions made it impossible to know whether he was carrying a weapon.
He recalled hearing his son order Smith to leave the vehicle before attempting to intervene.
Geoff said he briefly returned to his home to retrieve a firearm from a secure cabinet, intending only to use it as a deterrent, but when he returned, Smith was already unconscious.
Neighbor Says Intervention May Have Prevented Further Harm
Deborah Day told the hearing that although Dr. Thame placed Smith in a headlock, she did not believe he intended to kill him.
She also suggested that the professor’s intervention may have prevented injury to others, including herself, by stopping Smith from driving away while the struggle was taking place.
Medical Findings Reveal Multiple Factors in Death
Medical evidence presented to the inquest concluded that Smith died following an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.
The cause of death was determined to involve a combination of acute behavioral disturbance, cocaine use, and the physical restraint applied during the incident.
The court heard that these factors together contributed to the fatal outcome.
No Criminal Action Taken Against Professor
Detective Constable Sharon Moore of Devon and Cornwall Police told the coroner that Dr. Thame was arrested and interviewed after the incident.
However, following a review of the evidence, authorities decided not to pursue any charges against him.
The officer stated that investigators ultimately concluded no further action would be taken against the professor.
Inquest Continues
The hearing continues as the coroner examines the circumstances surrounding Smith’s death, including the police pursuit, the confrontation at the property, and the role played by the restraint used during the struggle.
Further evidence and witness testimony are expected to be heard before conclusions are reached regarding the events that led to the fatal incident.
