NT Police Serious Custody Incident investigation after bleeding man tasered

Alice Springs police used a taser on a man bleeding heavily from his wrists after he allegedly resisted officers during an arrest.

An Alice Springs man was tasered while bleeding heavily from his wrists during a chaotic arrest.

Police said a 28-year-old man was in hospital after smashing a window while allegedly trying to resist police on Saturday.

NT Police confirmed the arrest was being treated as a Serious Custody Incident.

Police went to his Alice Springs home following a theft from a clothing store in the central business district.

It was alleged CCTV captured the 28-year-old attempting to steal clothes before the business owner stopped him and was assaulted.

Police went to his Alice Springs home following a theft from a clothing store in the central business district.

When police arrived at his home the 28-year-old allegedly resisted arrest, and barricaded himself in a bathroom.

Police allege the man threw glass at officers as he locked himself in the bathroom.

He reportedly smashed a window, cutting his wrist and causing an arterial bleed.

Officers forced their way into the bathroom and struggled with the bleeding man.

Police then tasered the 28-year-old, before applying first aid.

He was taken to Alice Springs Hospital in a stable condition.

A confidential NT Police order about the use of force said tasers, also known as Electro-muscular Control Device must be “a reasonable response in the circumstances and not an unnecessary use of force”.

It said a taser could be used when a person was acting in a way where there is an immediate physical threat of serious harm and the officer cannot reasonably protect themselves.

“Officers are not to use an ECO solely as a method of subject compliance at any time,” the 2017 order said.

“Additional consideration must be given... Against people who are known to be or who appear to be suffering from serious medical conditions such as serious cardiac conditions... (or) a mental illness.”

It said officers should also aware that “multiple, repeated or continuous deployment” increased the risk of injury

Group at large run after alleged attack on elderly Alice Springs resident

Police are searching for a group of men after an elderly woman was assaulted inside her home in Alice Springs in a “cowardly” attack.

Just after 1am on Tuesday, police received reports that as many as four men broke into a 70-year-old’s home on Memorial Dr in Gillen.

It is alleged one of the men in the group used an edged weapon to break into the home before physically assaulting the elderly woman, leaving her with minor injuries.

Her mobile phone was allegedly stolen before the group fled the scene.

A crime scene was declared and detectives from the Alice Springs Criminal Investigation Branch was investigating.

“This was a cowardly attack on a vulnerable member of our community,” Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Adam Donaldson said.

Sergeant Donaldson urged anyone with information to contact police on 131444 or Crime Stoppers on 1800333000.