Alice Springs Police Prosecutor Steven Haig allegedly involved arrest of Yuendumu man
A NT Police prosecutor was allegedly involved in the arrest of a young disabled Aboriginal man in an Alice Springs supermarket, which is currently subject to a death in custody investigation.
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A NT Police prosecutor was allegedly involved in the arrest of a young disabled Aboriginal man in an Alice Springs supermarket, which is currently subject to a death in custody investigation.
The NT News has been told by both sources and an eye witness one of the officers involved in the arrest of the 24-year-old was Police Prosecutor Steven Haig.
Assistant Commissioner Travis Wurst previously confirmed two plainclothes on-duty officers restrained the man after he had an “altercation” with private security guards.
Mr Wurst said it was alleged the man was stealing items from the confectionary section at 1.10pm, Tuesday May 27.
Mr Wurst claimed the man was “taken to the ground” for a “number of minutes” before general duties officers arrived to handcuff him.
It was only when additional police arrived that it was realised the young man had lost consciousness.
The NT News has not established the specific role Mr Haig played in restraining the man, but has confirmed he was one of the officers involved in the initial arrest.
The man died in Alice Springs hospital 70 minutes after being restrained.
Mr Wurst said the forensic pathologist had completed an initial autopsy, but as of Thursday was unable to determine the cause of death.
NT Police and Mr Haig were contacted for comment in relation to his alleged involvement in the arrest, but had not responded by time of publication.
It comes four months after Mr Haig was also involved in the arrest of a 29-year-old woman at the same Coles complex.
In a press release at the time, NT Police revealed the woman was arrested by an off-duty police officer and an off-duty police auxiliary officer after she was allegedly “behaving in a disorderly manner” on Bath Street on Sunday, January 12.
It was alleged the woman was involved in a “physical altercation” with security guards after she was told to leave the supermarket.
NT Police said the off-duty, non-uniformed officers “identified themselves as police” and alleged the woman then “threatened them”.
“(She) was subsequently ground stabilised by the officers, during which the offender allegedly bit and scratched one of the officers,” it was alleged.
The woman was charged with assaulting police, resisting police, breaching her bail and disorderly behaviour.
At the time, Acting Commander Michael Budge commended the officers for “continuing to protect the Alice Springs community, even while off the clock”.
However, when photos of the arrest emerged, members of the community raised concern over the method of restraint apparently used by Mr Haig.
A photo of the arrest appeared to show Mr Haig with his knee behind the head of the woman as she was pinned to the ground.
At the time, NT Police were asked to respond to questions about Mr Haig’s use of force in the incident, including the placement of his knee near her neck and upper back.
“At this stage we will not be releasing further information,” a spokesman said.
Similarly, neither the Ombudsman nor North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency, were able to provide specific responses.
The Ombudsman’s office stated as a legislative requirement the investigation had to be dealt with “privately and in confidence”.
“As such we do not comment on the existence or progress of individual matters,” a spokesman said.
“Please note that this advice should not be taken as acknowledgement that the Office has received a particular complaint or is investigating a particular matter.”
While NAAJA said “we have no comment on the matter”.
The 29-year-old woman’s matter will return to court on June 16.
In the latest Ombudsman annual report there 19 complaints about police sustained, with two for inappropriate use of force during an arrest or while in custody.
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Originally published as Alice Springs Police Prosecutor Steven Haig allegedly involved arrest of Yuendumu man
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