Tributes for Steven Nixon flow after 27-year-old died in custody after altercation with police

Tributes are flowing for a 27-year-old man who died in custody after he lost consciousness during a ‘violent altercation’ with police in Toowoomba.

WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are warned that this story contains images of deceased persons.

Tributes have started to flow for the southwest Queensland man who died following a ‘violent struggle’ with police in Toowoomba, with family and friends in shock of the sudden death of the 27-year-old.

It’s understood that Steven Nixon suffered a medical episode during an incident with two police officers in Stone Street, Wilsonton about 12.25pm on Thursday, October 7.

He lost consciousness during a ‘violent struggle’ with police which is now the subject of an Ethical Standards investigation.

In the hours following Mr Nixon’s death friends took to social media to pay tribute to him. .

“RIP brother gone way too soon so many memories of our younger years I’ll cherish forever,” Shanon Watkins posted.

Mitchell man Steven Nixon, 27, died in custody following an incident with police in Stone Street, Wilsonton on Thursday, October 7, 2021.

“It still doesn’t feel real that you are gone,” Breony Finlay said.

“I only saw you two days ago, I remember the last thing I said was to stay safe and keep out of trouble. I love you.”

“Another life gone too young. It was not long ago we were talking. I wish you would just come back and this all wouldn’t of happened. Rest easy brother keep it real see you in the dream time. Condolences to the Nixon family,” Dylan Collins said.

“I’m so lost for words ... I’m gonna miss you and the random phone calls from you ... not ever did I think that this would happen to you,” Tia Louise said.

“I’m just shocked badly and don’t really want to even come to terms with knowing that you’re gone.”

Forensic police and detectives investigate the scene of an alleged death in custody in Stone St Wilsonton. Thursday, October 7, 2021. Picture: Nev Madsen.

At about 12.25pm on Thursday, October 7 police were called to Stone Street in Wilsonton following a report from a member of the public that three people were acting suspiciously in a car at Stone St, Wilsonton.

Two other occupants of the suspected stolen car fled the scene and were still at large.

Police would not go into detail on how Mr Nixon, an Indigenous man, died other than confirming there was “a violent struggle” where the man “became unconscious”.

It is being treated as a death in custody and suspect he had a medical episode during the arrest.

Since 1991, almost 500 Indigenous Australians have died in prison or in the custody of police.

Assistant Commissioner Mike Condon delivers the details of an alleged death in custody in Stone St Wilsonton on October 7. Thursday, October 7, 2021. Picture: Nev Madsen.

Toowoomba’s top cop, Assistant Commissioner for the Southern Region Mike Condon, confirmed the vehicle had been reported stolen about a month ago.

Pressed on the man’s cause of death, he said: “I would suggest that there was a violent struggle, (and) would suggest they were fleeing from the scene as they were in a stolen vehicle.

“The mere fact it was involved in an altercation will necessitate that we investigate the use of force used by our officers, and that will be overviewed by the ESC (Ethical Standards Command), and the coroner.”

Mr Condon said one officer taken to hospital was suffering breathing difficulties, while the other sustained minor injuries in the scuffle.