Death in custody investigation launched after rural Darwin police pursuit
Peter Malley says the incident is being investigated as a death in custody with oversight from professional standards command. (ABC News: Peter Garnish)
In short:
A 43-year-old man has died and police have launched a death in custody investigation after an incident in the Darwin rural area described by Northern Territory Police as "confronting and traumatic".
The man had reportedly been involved in a pursuit with police after stealing two vehicles.
Acting Assistant Commissioner Peter Malley said he backed the actions of the officers at the scene who were receiving welfare support.
Northern Territory Police have launched a death in custody investigation after a 43-year-old man died following a police pursuit in Darwin's rural area yesterday.
Addressing the media in Darwin today, Acting Assistant Commissioner Peter Malley said the man died after reportedly self-harming during a confrontation with police in scrubland near the Stuart Highway.
Acting Assistant Commissioner Malley said the rural area local had stolen a vehicle from Adelaide River which he then abandoned near Acacia Hills, south of Humpty Doo.
"He went to take a vehicle, but there was children in the vehicle, and he was directed to another vehicle that had keys in it, so he drove away in that one," he said.
Police said the man then stole another vehicle from an address on Colton Road.
Police said the man stole a vehicle from an address on Colton Road during the incident. (ABC News: Michael Franchi)
The ABC spoke to residents at that address, who said they were left rattled by the incident, with the vehicle stolen from the property while a mother and child were at home.
Pursuit in vehicle and then on foot
A pursuit reportedly then ensued in the area between police and the stolen vehicle.
The man reportedly abandoned the vehicle at the Acacia Quarry, then fled on foot.
When confronted by officers, police said the man self-harmed.
"An officer deployed a taser in an attempt to prevent the man from further harming himself," a spokesperson said in a statement.
Police say the man abandoned one of the vehicles at the Acacia Quarry. (ABC News: Michael Franchi)
"Officers provided immediate first aid and St John Ambulance arrived at the scene soon after, but the man succumbed to his injuries and was declared deceased at the scene."
Acting Assistant Commissioner Malley said he backed the action of officers at the scene but investigations were ongoing.
"It's a death in custody investigation declared, and major crime have it, with oversight from professional standards command," he said.
The officers involved have also been offered welfare support following the incident.
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