A MAN who was arrested on suspicion of murder has now has been released under investigation.  

The 34-year-old was arrested in connection with death of a man in Bolton following a fight in Halliwell on Sunday.

It has been revealed that the victim, aged 49, had been arrested first at a house in Elgin Street and was being taken to a police station when he became ill in the back of a police van as it travelled along St Peter’s Way.

Despite attempts to revive him at the side of the road he later died in hospital.

Police said in a statement the man suffered a medical episode in the police vehicle. They later returned to the house in Elgin Street and arrested a 34-year-old man.

The house remains under police guard today as a crime scene, with an officer posted outside.

A neighbour described the incident as “very sad” but did not know who lived at the address.

Police had been called to reports of a disturbance at a house, which is believed to be a rented property, in the early hours of Sunday. Officers spoke to the two men who had been involved in an altercation and a 49-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of breaching the peace.

In line with standard policy, the Independent Police Complaints Commission has been informed and is investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident.

A spokesperson for the IPCC said: “Following a referral from Greater Manchester Police we have begun an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of a man in Bolton in the early hours on Sunday morning.”

Most neighbours were alerted to the incident when they woke to see police in the street and received letters which said: “Between 1am and 2am on Sunday, September 10, an incident took place at Elgin Street in which a man lost his life.” They appealed for information. 

Anybody with information is asked to contact police on 101, quoting incident number 255 of 10/9/17, or charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.