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Sunday, Jun 01, 2025
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Tragic Death of Indigenous Man in Police Restraint Sparks Outrage in Alice Springs
The death of a disabled Aboriginal man following police restraint has led to calls for systemic changes in response to policing practices and guardianship systems.
A 24-year-old disabled Aboriginal man has died following an incident involving police restraint at a Coles supermarket in Mparntwe, commonly known as Alice Springs.
The incident unfolded on Monday afternoon after store staff reported the man for allegedly attempting to conceal food items in his clothing.
According to the Northern Territory Police, officers intervened and restrained the individual inside the supermarket.
Witnesses indicate that he ceased breathing while on the ground, and despite rapid intervention from paramedics, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Northern Territory Police has stated that body-worn camera footage of the incident has been secured as part of the investigation, which is now under the purview of the Northern Territory Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC).
Additionally, a coronial inquest has been initiated to examine the circumstances surrounding the death.
In reaction to the event, the National Network of Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Women and Girls released a statement condemning the police's actions.
Debbie Kilroy, a notable prison abolition advocate associated with the organization, highlighted that the deceased was under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and was in a vulnerable state, stating, "He was hungry.
He was under state guardianship - under the care and protection of the Minister.
And it was the state that killed him."
Kilroy characterized the intervention as lethal, reflecting on broader systemic issues within policing in Australia.
The statement further noted the timing of the incident during National Reconciliation Week, coinciding with the anniversary of George Floyd Jr.'s death, which has prompted reflections on systemic violence against marginalized communities.
Tabitha Lean, a spokesperson for the National Network, expressed grave concern, noting, "This tragedy exposes the violence of the guardianship system." Lean, along with Kilroy, is currently in Mparntwe to support the local community and advocate for immediate and systemic changes.
They are calling for an independent investigation free from police involvement and increased investment in community-controlled, culturally safe support systems.
The incident unfolded on Monday afternoon after store staff reported the man for allegedly attempting to conceal food items in his clothing.
According to the Northern Territory Police, officers intervened and restrained the individual inside the supermarket.
Witnesses indicate that he ceased breathing while on the ground, and despite rapid intervention from paramedics, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Northern Territory Police has stated that body-worn camera footage of the incident has been secured as part of the investigation, which is now under the purview of the Northern Territory Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC).
Additionally, a coronial inquest has been initiated to examine the circumstances surrounding the death.
In reaction to the event, the National Network of Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Women and Girls released a statement condemning the police's actions.
Debbie Kilroy, a notable prison abolition advocate associated with the organization, highlighted that the deceased was under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and was in a vulnerable state, stating, "He was hungry.
He was under state guardianship - under the care and protection of the Minister.
And it was the state that killed him."
Kilroy characterized the intervention as lethal, reflecting on broader systemic issues within policing in Australia.
The statement further noted the timing of the incident during National Reconciliation Week, coinciding with the anniversary of George Floyd Jr.'s death, which has prompted reflections on systemic violence against marginalized communities.
Tabitha Lean, a spokesperson for the National Network, expressed grave concern, noting, "This tragedy exposes the violence of the guardianship system." Lean, along with Kilroy, is currently in Mparntwe to support the local community and advocate for immediate and systemic changes.
They are calling for an independent investigation free from police involvement and increased investment in community-controlled, culturally safe support systems.
