Indigenous Alice Springs man who died in police custody was ‘on the ground for a number of minutes’

Northern Territory Police say footage from the Alice Springs supermarket where an Indigenous man died shows he was on the ground for several minutes after being restrained by police.

The Yuendumu man was in a Coles supermarket at about 1.10pm (ACST) on Tuesday when he allegedly became involved in a scuffle with a security guard.

Two plain clothes police officers in the store at the time restrained the man, who then noticed he had stopped breathing. The 24-year-old was taken to hospital but died an hour later.

NT senator and Indigenous Affairs minister Malarndirri McCarthy called the man’s death a “shocking tragedy”, while Victorian senator Lidia Thorpe described the death as part of a brutal pattern of Indigenous people dying at the hands of police.

NT Police Assistant Commissioner Travis Wurst said in an update on Wednesday afternoon that police had drawn fresh conclusions after reviewing CCTV and body-worn camera footage from security guards at the supermarket.

“The male was taken to the ground, and he remained on the ground for a number of minutes before general duties front-line officers came to the complex and placed handcuffs on the male,” he said.

“At about this point, it was determined the male had lost consciousness. The handcuffs were removed, first aid was administered immediately, and that did include some CPR, while St John’s were awaiting to attend. They arrived [and] took over the primary care.”

Wurst said the autopsy had found the cause of death was “undetermined” and required further investigation.

“Police will continue to investigate this matter with an objective lens. It’s a complex investigation,” Wurst said.

He said the investigation had also found that the deceased man struck a woman in the back near a Commonwealth Bank branch in Alice Springs before he entered the supermarket. Police are seeking witnesses through Crime Stoppers for information on that incident.

Wurst said police were working with the dead man’s family, Yuendumu police and the Alice Springs community to understand community sentiment and provide relevant information.

Major Crime Section detectives are investigating and will prepare a report for the NT coroner.

In a press conference on Tuesday, Wurst said security guards initially confronted the man as he was allegedly putting items down the front of his clothes.

Wurst said one of the guards was assaulted before two plain-clothes police tried to help.

“The male behaved rather aggressively and was placed onto the ground by those police officers. He was later identified as losing consciousness,” Wurst said.

Senator Thorpe said the man was hungry and in need of care, adding that he was a ward of the state and disabled.

In a statement on Wednesday, Thorpe said her heart was with those grieving the death of the young man.

“He was a disabled man, on the NDIS, and under state guardianship. He was hungry, and he needed care. Instead, he was met with brutal force,” Thorpe said.

“For decades, our people have called for an end to this violence — for justice, accountability, and care instead of cruelty. But still, our voices are ignored.”

Thorpe said the man had died during National Reconciliation Week.

Victorian independent senator Lidia Thorpe.Credit: Luis Ascui

“This is not an isolated tragedy — it’s part of a brutal pattern where our people die at the hands of police and in prisons... Yet despite countless recommendations, inquiries and promises, our people continue to die in custody,” she said.

“We demand justice. We demand answers.”

In a statement on Wednesday, Malarndirri McCarthy said she had been in contact with the man’s family.

“I have spoken with an Elder from the young man’s family and have expressed my deepest sympathy,” she said.

The Alice Springs town centre.Credit: Louie Douvis

“My thoughts are with all of his family, loved ones and community. The family is waiting for further information as the investigation is ongoing”.

In today’s shadow cabinet reshuffle, Liberal Senator for South Australia Kerrynne Liddle was named Shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians.

“I feel sorry and sad for the family of the 24-year-old who died in Alice Springs,” Liddle said in a statement.

“Along with the police and coronial investigation it will be important to understand if there were additional circumstances that resulted in this tragic outcome.”

Thirty people have died in custody since January 1, eight of whom were Indigenous, according to data from the Australian Institute of Criminology’s National Deaths in Custody Program.

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