Adam Shepley posted a chilling message on social media before his death in police custody
Adam Shepley died during his arrest after acting erratically and running across roofs in Salisbury North on Saturday. Just hours before, he posted to social media about being scared.
SA News
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The day before his death on Saturday, Adam Shepley posted “I don’t feel safe right now” on his Facebook page.
The 30-year-old died in the yard of a Trinity Crescent property as police were attempting to detain him in the early hours of the morning.
Officers were sent to a house in nearby Shaxton St at about 12.15am in response to reports of a man runnings across roofs.
Officers found the man in the Trinity Crescent yard and said he appeared to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
One male officer sustained minor injuries after Mr Shepley allegedly bit him on the arm while attempting to arrest him.
An ambulance was called but Mr Shepley died at the scene.
Police are treating the incident as a death in custody and have launched an internal investigation to assess the conduct of the officers during the arrest.
Mr Shepley raised alarm bells on Friday morning when he posted “I don’t feel safe right now” on Facebook.
Friends quickly responded to make sure he was okay.
“It’s ok. Nothing. All good,” he responded.
Mr Shepley’s devastated friends and family are now coming to terms with Mr Shepley’s death.
“I can’t believe ur gone,” one friend wrote.
“U called me last night at 11:00pm and said u were in taxi on ur way … and u never turned up......now I hear ur gone.”
Another person said he “Cannot believe this”.
“We were on the phone just hours ago joking and sharing memories of Alwyn … And now your going to be there with him a lot sooner than you should,” they wrote.
“R.I.P. Adam Shepley – I’m still completely numb, I don’t even know how to process it.”
Shaxton St resident Karen-Gaye Clissold called police after the man she opened her door to began climbing her fence and running along her neighbour’s roofs.
“He reckoned he was being chased by a car and needed help,” Ms Clissold said.
“I heard him climbing the tin fences, that’s when I called police.’”
The cause of Mr Shepley’s death remains unclear but police say he did not have injuries consistent with a roof fall.
