Grooming arrest suspect found dead after video posted online
A man was found dead days after a video of him being confronted by a self-proclaimed paedophile "hunter" was posted on social media.
The 44-year-old was arrested on suspicion of grooming on 28 May and released on bail. He was found dead at a property in Harlow on 31 May.
The video was posted on a Facebook page run by Christopher Wood from Essex.
Essex Police has referred the man's death to the police watchdog. His death is not being treated as suspicious.
The dead man's name has not been released by police.
On Facebook, Mr Wood said the death had come as "shocking news" and he had removed the video "out of respect for his family".
Mr Wood describes himself on Facebook as a "hunter" who wants to "make a stand" against the grooming of children online.
An Essex Police spokesman said the force was aware of videos "filmed and published by a third party" on social media "purporting to show an encounter between the arrested man and a member of the public".
It declined to comment further.