'Most wanted' man found dead

Vernon was on the 10 "most wanted" list

The Police Complaints Authority is to supervise an investigation into the death of a man whose mugshot was beamed onto the front of a police headquarters building.

The body of Damian Wayne Vernon, 22, was found near the River Tame in north Birmingham on Monday afternoon.

Police have ruled out the possibility of murder following an inconclusive post-mortem examination.

Suicide or accidental death theories are now being investigated.

Vernon was one of 10 "most wanted" criminals who were the subject of a high-profile campaign by West Midlands Police.

Vernon failed to appear in court

The spokesman for West Midlands Police said: "West Midlands Police have taken the decision to voluntarily refer this matter to the Police Complaints Authority.

"An outside force will be asked to examine the circumstances of Mr Vernon's death."

Vernon is the second person on the West Midlands Police "most wanted" list to die recently.

Last month Glen Roy Foster was stabbed to death in London.

But a spokesman said there were no plans to review the high-profile policy following the two deaths.

'Streets' operation

"We remain of the view that this is an appropriate and legitimate tactic," he added.

Three 60-foot high pictures, including Vernon's, were projected onto Lloyd House in the heart of Birmingham just before Christmas.

Some of the police images were also shown at football grounds around the West Midlands.

All 10 "most wanted" criminals were profiled on the force's website as part of Operation Safer Streets.

A warrant for Vernon's arrest was issued after he failed to appear in court on three charges of robbery and two of theft of motor vehicles.