Witnesses allege cops had ‘knee behind the head’ of a 24-year-old disabled Aboriginal man at Alice Springs Coles
An Alice Springs woman who witnessed the arrest of a man who later died in hospital has shared her account of the ordeal.
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UPDATE, Wednesday May 28: A young Aboriginal man with a disability has died after being restrained by an Alice Springs police officer, with a witness to the incident claiming an officer’s “knee was behind his head”.
NT Police confirmed a death in custody investigation was underway after a 24-year-old Aboriginal man died 70 minutes after being restrained by plainclothes officers at the Coles supermarket in Alice Springs at 1.10pm on Wednesday.
On Wednesday Assistant Commissioner Travis Wurst said the young man was approached by private security guards after allegedly stealing items while in the confectionery aisle of the store.
Mr Wurst said the 24-year-old was “taken to the ground” by two plainclothes on-duty officers after he allegedly had an “altercation” with security.
“He remained on the ground for a number of minutes, before general duties frontline officers came to the Coles complex and placed handcuffs on the male,” he said
Mr Wurst said it was at this point police realised the 24-year-old had lost consciousness.
Despite first aid being provided, the young man died while in the critical care unit of Alice Springs Hospital at 2.20pm.
While based in Alice Springs for years, the man has been confirmed as being a Warlpiri man with connections to the Yuendumu community.
It is understood the he had a disability and was under a guardianship order and an NDIS plan.
A customer who said she witnessed the incident has alleged the tragedy was “avoidable” and was “absolutely disgusting”, saying officers were warned by bystanders to “be careful” as the man had a disability.
The woman — who asked not to be named — said she heard a “commotion” in the nearby aisles and went to see what was happening.
She alleged the officers had the man on the ground as Coles workers yelled out “stay down, stay down” and “don’t move, get down on the ground”.
“There was an Aboriginal man on the floor and a police officer had his knee behind his head,” she said.
The customer said the man’s friends were calling out: “Hey look this fella has a disability, he’s disabled, just be a bit more careful”.
“But no one obviously listened,” she said.
“And then all of a sudden he started fitting on the ground, like he was having a seizure.”
The customer said as soon as his medical emergency was recognised, they grabbed the defibrillator — but said that did not work — before starting CPR.
“As he was having the seizure everyone rushed over,” she said.
The Alice Springs resident said she felt the tragedy could have been avoided.
“If they had sat him up, had his hands behind his back and let him sit up for a minute — Not keep him down on the ground,” she said.
“I just feel so sorry for the family.”
She questioned the reaction of security and police to question the man allegedly stealing “a couple dollars worth of food” from an aisle filled with just chocolates, lollies and juice.
“That’s not worth someone’s life,” she said.
The woman said she had not seen security at the Coles stepping in to stop shoplifters, but on that afternoon they had acted “so dramatically”.
Mr Wurst said police would be investigating the reports that officers were warned about the young man’s disability during the arrest — noting that unlike Darwin, Alice Springs Police did not have a mental health co-response team.
“All of that information is going to be very relevant to the coronial investigation,” he said.
He was unable to confirm if the officer’s knee was behind the young man’s head, or how many people were holding him down before he lost consciousness.
“I’m not going to provide specifics in relation to the actual incident or the conduct of officers or security guards or any other members of the public,” he said.
He said the forensic pathologist had completed the autopsy, but at this stage was unable to determine the cause of death.
Mr Wurst said police were also investigating an earlier incident involving the 24-year-old at the nearby Commonwealth Bank, where he allegedly struck a female stranger in the back.
Mr Wurst said the death in custody matter would maintain its independence with a “full investigative structure” and oversight by the Professional Standards Command.
“I’m comfortable and I can provide comfort to the Northern Territory Community that we can provide an objective, professional and transparent investigation.”
Mr Wurst said while police executives and investigators would be heading to Alice Springs, there was no need for other additional resources.
“At this stage the community sentiment is well understood by police, and there is not need for additional resources,” he said.
“There is no need for alarm or concern.”
Following the death in custody a small memorial has appeared at the entryway of the Coles, which remains closed as an active crime scene.
Bunches of flowers were left at the doors alongside a piece of cardboard which said “#lifematters”.
A Coles spokeswoman said the team was “deeply saddened by the tragic incident” with support being provided to staff as the Gregory Terrace store prepares for its reopening at 7am Thursday.
“Our thoughts are with the man’s family, loved ones, and the wider community during this difficult time,” she said.
“We understand that the police are investigating the circumstances, and we are fully assisting with their investigation.
“We are committed to ensuring our stores remain safe for our customers, team members, and the community.”
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.
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.
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.”
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.
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.
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”.
“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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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