Police investigating death in custody of Aboriginal man in Alice Springs
An investigation has been launched after an Aboriginal man died in the custody of police after an altercation with a security guard.
The 24-year-old man was restrained by two police officers who were on-duty and in plain clothes at the Coles supermarket in Alice Springs on Tuesday.
The Northern Territory police communications centre received reports of the altercation between the man and a security guard just after 1pm local time on Tuesday.
Assistant Commissioner Travis Wurst told reporters in Darwin the man had been 'placing items down the front of (his) clothing' before being confronted by security guards.
'One of the security guards was assaulted and there were two police officers, who were in plain clothes at the time, in the supermarket who rendered assistance to the security guards,' he said, as reported by the ABC.
'The male behaved rather aggressively and was placed onto the ground by those police officers.
'He was later identified as losing consciousness.'
The 24-year-old stopped breathing while still in the supermarket, and CPR was attempted before an ambulance was called.
He was taken to Alice Springs Hospital and pronounced dead just after 2.20pm.
A crime scene has been established and the shopping centre will remain closed while investigations continue.
The incident will be investigated as a death in custody.
'I pass on my condolences to the family of this person, a tragic set of circumstances,' Mr Wurst said.
'It will also have a significant impact on the security guards and the police officers and NT police have already provided welfare support to the officers involved.'
A senior commissioned officer has been placed in charge of this investigation, and major crime section detectives will travel to Alice Springs to continue investigations.
The police will also conduct the investigation on the behalf of the coroner.
Police urge anyone who witnessed the incident to make contact 131 444.
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