NT Police investigating death in custody of 24-year-old Aboriginal man restrained to the ground at Alice Springs Coles

An Aboriginal man has died after being ground stabilised by Alice Springs police at a popular supermarket. Read the latest here.

Emergency services cordoned off the Alice Springs Coles as a crime scene on Tuesday May 27. Picture: Gera Kazakov

UPDATE, 5pm Tuesday May 27: A death in custody investigation has been launched after a young Aboriginal man lost consciousness while being taken to the ground by plain clothes cops at an Alice Springs supermarket.

On Tuesday, Assistant Commissioner Travis Wurst confirmed a 24-year-old man had died in hospital after he lost consciousness during an arrest at the Alice Springs Coles on Gregory Terrace.

Mr Wurst said it was reported the young man was “placing items down the front of his clothing” when he was “confronted” by security guards at 1.10pm.

He said there was an “altercation” between the man and the security guard in aisle four of the Coles, alleging the Alice Springs man assaulted the worker.

Assistant Commissioner Travis Wurst during a press conference at the headquarters of the Northern Territory Police, Darwin. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Mr Wurst said two on-duty plainclothes police officers were at the supermarket and stepped in to intervene, “placing” the young man to the ground as he was behaving “rather aggressively”.

“He was later identified as losing consciousness,” he said.

Mr Wurst was unable to confirm if the man tried to signal he was unable to breathe while being ground stabilised, or for how long he was restrained, or if officers were on top of him at the time.

“The investigation is only in its preliminary stages, there’s lots of work to be done by our investigative team to collect the evidence from those involved,” he said.

A paramedic outside Coles in Alice Springs. A man has died inside Alice Springs Coles on May 27, 2025, with police saying he was in custody at the time. Picture: Gera Kazakov

Mr Wurst said paramedics soon arrived at the scene, with the unconscious man taken to Alice Springs Hospital.

He said the young man was taken into the critical care unit, but died at 2.20pm — 70 minutes after the incident.

“I pass on my condolences to the family of this person, it’s a tragic set of circumstances,” Mr Wurst said.

“It will also have a significant impact on the security guards and the police officers.”

Police enter Coles in Alice Springs. A man has died inside Alice Springs Coles on May 27, 2025, with police saying he was in custody at the time. Picture: Gera Kazakov

He said welfare support was being offered to the police officers involved, with the NT Police Association also notified about the death in custody investigation.

Mr Wurst confirmed CCTV from the store had been obtained as part of the investigation, with the supermarket still closed as it remained a crime scene.

He encouraged any witnesses to come forward as part of the investigation, noting the busy supermarket had “plenty of people” inside during the lunchtime incident.

“Anyone who may have seen any movement prior to, any behaviours, the altercation or anything else that might be relevant, I ask them to call crime stoppers or the NT Police” he said.

A Coles employee blocks the window at the Alice Spring Coles Tuesday, May 27, 2025. A man has died inside Alice Springs Coles on May 27, 2025, with police saying he was in custody at the time. Picture: Gera Kazakov

Mr Wurst was asked if there were concerns about non-uniformed police conducting arrests — as the person may not realise they were being restrained by officers.

“When you’re a police officer (and) you see someone in distress, regardless of whether you’re in uniform or not you’re obliged to respond,” he said.

“And these officers have done that and unfortunately and tragically as a consequence of being involved, this person has passed away.”

He said it was “far too early to say” if the officers did the right thing, and was unable to rule out if charges may be laid as a result of the death in custody investigation.

“It’s far too early to provide any assessment, and we’ll provide the report to the coroner in due course,” he said.

Police and ambulance vehicles outside Coles in Alice Springs. A man has died inside Alice Springs Coles on May 27, 2025, with police saying he was in custody at the time. Picture: Gera Kazakov

Mr Wurst said the investigation would “keep an open mind” to any mental health related issues or other factors that may have contributed to the incident.

Detectives from the NTPF Major Crime Section are travelling to Alice Springs and investigations are ongoing, with the matter to be investigated on behalf of the coroner as a mandatory death in custody inquest.

Mr Wurst said the NT pathologist was travelling to Alice Springs to conduct an autopsy.

INITIAL Tuesday May 27: The death of a restrained man in an Alice Springs supermarket is being investigated as a death in custody.

NT Police have confirmed a man “stopped breathing” after being restrained at the Coles supermarket in Alice Springs.

A spokesman said it was reported the man was “involved in an altercation with a security guard at the Coles supermarket in Alice Springs”.

Police enter Coles in Alice Springs. Picture: Gera Kazakov

“Two police officers were in the store at the time of the incident and restrained the adult male,” the spokesman said.

NT Police said while he was restrained “the man stopped breathing and CPR was commenced”.

St John Ambulance attended the scene, and the man was taken to Alice Springs Hospital where he was pronounced deceased shortly after 2.20pm.

Police inside Coles in Alice Springs. Picture: Gera Kazakov

NT Police confirmed a crime scene had been established at the Coles shopping complex on Gregory Terrace at 2.10pm.

“A crime scene was established, and the shopping centre is expected to remain closed. The incident is being investigated as a death in custody,” a spokesman said.

Detectives from the NTPF Major Crime Section are travelling to Alice Springs and investigations are ongoing, with the matter to be investigated on behalf of the coroner.

A NT News reporter at the scene confirmed police and paramedics were inside the supermarket.

Police and ambulance vehicles outside Coles in Alice Springs. Picture: Gera Kazakov

Police at the scene would not respond to questions, while this masthead observed multiple officers inside.

A lone ambulance was still out the front of the store just after 2.30pm.

A paramedic outside Coles in Alice Springs. Picture: Gera Kazakov

Coles workers were seen leaving the store at 3pm, but when questioned said they were unaware what occurred.

A man who identified himself as a Talice security said he would not answer questions because “of our confidentiality agreements with customers”.

Multiple people were observed trying to enter Coles, but were turned back.

Many were unaware what had occurred inside the shopping when questioned.

A Coles employee blocks the window at the Alice Spring Coles. Picture: Gera Kazakov

Just after 3.30pm, a Coles worker was observed placing paper on the window to the store.

They gave no indication when the store would reopen.

More to come.