1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:03,760 Speaker 1: Now a man's died after an incident at Cole's supermarket 2 00:00:03,880 --> 00:00:07,640 Speaker 1: in Alice Springs. Security guards confronted the twenty four year 3 00:00:07,680 --> 00:00:10,760 Speaker 1: old who was trying to steal items by hiding them 4 00:00:10,840 --> 00:00:14,720 Speaker 1: in his clothes just after one pm yesterday afternoon. Police 5 00:00:14,720 --> 00:00:17,880 Speaker 1: say the twenty four year old became aggressive, an altercation 6 00:00:18,079 --> 00:00:22,000 Speaker 1: then broke out and a security guard was assaulted. Now 7 00:00:22,120 --> 00:00:25,759 Speaker 1: joining me in the studio is see Northern Territories Assistant 8 00:00:25,800 --> 00:00:29,640 Speaker 1: Police Commissioner Travis Wurz. Good morning to your assistant commissioner. 9 00:00:29,280 --> 00:00:30,680 Speaker 2: Morning coding, and morning to your listeners. 10 00:00:30,720 --> 00:00:34,400 Speaker 1: Now talk me through what's happened from the police perspective. 11 00:00:35,000 --> 00:00:39,600 Speaker 2: So, obviously the report was received yesterday. As you've described, 12 00:00:40,000 --> 00:00:44,000 Speaker 2: Northern Charity Police responded from a frontline point of view 13 00:00:44,040 --> 00:00:47,839 Speaker 2: that so security guards called police police were requested to 14 00:00:47,880 --> 00:00:50,879 Speaker 2: attend the supermarket for this particular mile. But in that 15 00:00:50,920 --> 00:00:55,279 Speaker 2: intervening period a person, a police officer who was on 16 00:00:55,400 --> 00:00:59,520 Speaker 2: duty but actually implying clothes, was at the location. He 17 00:01:00,600 --> 00:01:04,160 Speaker 2: saw what was occurring, he assisted the security guards. We 18 00:01:04,240 --> 00:01:05,920 Speaker 2: can confirm that one of the security guards had been 19 00:01:05,920 --> 00:01:09,959 Speaker 2: assaulted before the police officer got there, and after a 20 00:01:09,959 --> 00:01:13,000 Speaker 2: period of time the other police arrived, but unfortunately, in 21 00:01:13,000 --> 00:01:16,640 Speaker 2: that intervening period, for reasons yet to be determined, the 22 00:01:16,680 --> 00:01:23,679 Speaker 2: male lost consciousness. Saint John's Ambulance were also called. They arrived, attended, 23 00:01:24,400 --> 00:01:27,320 Speaker 2: provided medical care. He was taken Ali Springs Hospital unfortunately 24 00:01:27,400 --> 00:01:27,960 Speaker 2: passed away. 25 00:01:28,800 --> 00:01:31,039 Speaker 1: So in terms of the police that were there, were 26 00:01:31,080 --> 00:01:35,560 Speaker 1: they so they were actually on duty, but in plane clothes, 27 00:01:35,600 --> 00:01:37,720 Speaker 1: so presumably on lunch or something. 28 00:01:37,760 --> 00:01:43,280 Speaker 2: Correct, Yeah, they were the calls for their own personal purposes, 29 00:01:43,319 --> 00:01:47,720 Speaker 2: boss getting lunch as is there, They're right, and even 30 00:01:47,800 --> 00:01:50,400 Speaker 2: though they were off duty, sorry not off duty, but 31 00:01:50,440 --> 00:01:55,640 Speaker 2: they were at the supermarket in playing clothes. The Northern 32 00:01:55,680 --> 00:01:58,480 Speaker 2: Charity Police have a duty and they became involved because 33 00:01:58,480 --> 00:02:01,400 Speaker 2: there was obviously an incident that required a response, and 34 00:02:01,400 --> 00:02:03,720 Speaker 2: the police officers did the right thing and became involved 35 00:02:03,880 --> 00:02:06,800 Speaker 2: to support the security guards who were involved in this 36 00:02:06,840 --> 00:02:09,720 Speaker 2: altercation with the mail. And unfortunately, as a consequence of 37 00:02:09,760 --> 00:02:13,360 Speaker 2: all the things that transpired, many of which we're still 38 00:02:13,960 --> 00:02:18,040 Speaker 2: piecing together as part of the investigation, this person's passed away. 39 00:02:18,680 --> 00:02:21,800 Speaker 2: I passed on my condolences to the family. What I 40 00:02:21,800 --> 00:02:26,040 Speaker 2: can tell your listeners is that we believe we've identified 41 00:02:26,040 --> 00:02:28,560 Speaker 2: the mail. However, we need to do that through a 42 00:02:28,600 --> 00:02:32,639 Speaker 2: formal process, and that hasn't yet been occurred. There are 43 00:02:32,760 --> 00:02:35,000 Speaker 2: very strict protocols that we must adhere to to make 44 00:02:35,040 --> 00:02:38,760 Speaker 2: sure that we are completely certain as to who the 45 00:02:38,760 --> 00:02:42,280 Speaker 2: identity of the person who passed away was. We do believe, however, 46 00:02:42,280 --> 00:02:45,720 Speaker 2: the mail was living in our springs but is from 47 00:02:45,760 --> 00:02:50,400 Speaker 2: a remote community within Central Australia. As a consequence of 48 00:02:50,400 --> 00:02:53,560 Speaker 2: that information, soon after the incident occurred, we had our 49 00:02:53,560 --> 00:02:57,800 Speaker 2: cultural reform teams start engaging with the community and community members. 50 00:02:58,440 --> 00:03:02,600 Speaker 2: We've also had police in the particular community engaging with 51 00:03:03,520 --> 00:03:07,000 Speaker 2: the family members and the community more broadly to ensure 52 00:03:07,040 --> 00:03:09,640 Speaker 2: that there's an open line of communication and we can 53 00:03:09,680 --> 00:03:14,080 Speaker 2: provide as much information as we can. We're very concerned about, obviously, 54 00:03:14,760 --> 00:03:16,840 Speaker 2: the community sentiment and the impact this will have in 55 00:03:16,840 --> 00:03:19,520 Speaker 2: the community. So we're working very closely with that community 56 00:03:19,520 --> 00:03:22,840 Speaker 2: to make sure that any issues that may bubble up 57 00:03:22,880 --> 00:03:25,200 Speaker 2: can be addressed and dealt with sooner rather than later. 58 00:03:25,320 --> 00:03:27,720 Speaker 1: So has there been any unreased in Ellice Springs following 59 00:03:27,720 --> 00:03:28,800 Speaker 1: that incident, Look. 60 00:03:28,680 --> 00:03:31,200 Speaker 2: Not, to my knowledge. I did have a conversation with 61 00:03:31,560 --> 00:03:34,040 Speaker 2: the other springs management team this morning just so I 62 00:03:34,120 --> 00:03:38,600 Speaker 2: understood what the sentiment and the community temperature was and 63 00:03:38,640 --> 00:03:40,280 Speaker 2: at this stage all the work we've done to this 64 00:03:40,360 --> 00:03:44,720 Speaker 2: point has managed to ensure that there's been no concern 65 00:03:44,760 --> 00:03:47,800 Speaker 2: in the community from an unrest point of view. We've 66 00:03:47,840 --> 00:03:51,680 Speaker 2: also engaged with all of our common wealth sorry, our government, 67 00:03:51,800 --> 00:03:54,280 Speaker 2: orn terity, government partners and commal partners to make sure 68 00:03:54,800 --> 00:03:57,400 Speaker 2: that there's calm in this response. We all need to 69 00:03:57,400 --> 00:04:00,360 Speaker 2: make sure we're delivering services into our spring and into 70 00:04:00,360 --> 00:04:02,560 Speaker 2: all the remote communities as we would normally, and in 71 00:04:02,600 --> 00:04:07,720 Speaker 2: fact increase That engagement is required because we understand what 72 00:04:07,840 --> 00:04:09,880 Speaker 2: this could mean for a remote community, and we need 73 00:04:09,920 --> 00:04:13,400 Speaker 2: to make sure that we're able to address any concerns 74 00:04:13,440 --> 00:04:16,840 Speaker 2: as they arrive and arise so that we can keep 75 00:04:17,120 --> 00:04:18,080 Speaker 2: every community safe. 76 00:04:18,400 --> 00:04:21,760 Speaker 1: So at this point in time, as I understand it, 77 00:04:21,839 --> 00:04:25,599 Speaker 1: this is now being treated as a death in custody. 78 00:04:25,240 --> 00:04:28,279 Speaker 2: Right, that's correct. So what that means is that when 79 00:04:28,360 --> 00:04:31,960 Speaker 2: police are involved in an incident and ultimately someone in 80 00:04:32,000 --> 00:04:35,680 Speaker 2: that incident passes away, there's clear guidelines that tell us 81 00:04:35,720 --> 00:04:37,359 Speaker 2: what is and what isn't the death in custody. This 82 00:04:37,440 --> 00:04:40,880 Speaker 2: is quite clearly falls into that category. A matter such 83 00:04:40,880 --> 00:04:46,080 Speaker 2: as this will mandatorily go to the coroner's office and 84 00:04:46,120 --> 00:04:49,360 Speaker 2: become an inquest. It's an obligation that the coroner has. 85 00:04:49,640 --> 00:04:51,919 Speaker 2: We're investigating this matter at the moment on behalf of 86 00:04:51,960 --> 00:04:55,040 Speaker 2: the coroner. Some of the information that for your listeners 87 00:04:55,040 --> 00:04:57,920 Speaker 2: around what we're doing. We have a full investiative structure 88 00:04:57,960 --> 00:05:02,120 Speaker 2: in place. We had major crime investigators flying last night, 89 00:05:02,200 --> 00:05:04,520 Speaker 2: some more this morning to support the other Springs team 90 00:05:04,560 --> 00:05:08,640 Speaker 2: who've done a wonderful job in that initial evidentiary and 91 00:05:08,720 --> 00:05:11,960 Speaker 2: evidence collection process that we need to step through. We 92 00:05:12,040 --> 00:05:15,120 Speaker 2: have a full structure in place. Pathologist is in our Springs. 93 00:05:15,160 --> 00:05:19,000 Speaker 2: She'll be conducting an autopsy this morning and that will 94 00:05:19,000 --> 00:05:24,760 Speaker 2: obviously be a crucial part of the evidence that's provided 95 00:05:24,800 --> 00:05:26,960 Speaker 2: to us that helps us in our decision making. 96 00:05:27,960 --> 00:05:31,160 Speaker 1: It made public that the autopsy. In terms of if 97 00:05:31,160 --> 00:05:35,120 Speaker 1: there is a cause of death identified, you. 98 00:05:35,120 --> 00:05:40,400 Speaker 2: Look normally, yes, it's not information that's closed, not disclosable 99 00:05:41,560 --> 00:05:44,400 Speaker 2: within reason of course, depending on what the circumstances are, 100 00:05:45,240 --> 00:05:47,760 Speaker 2: and will provide an information to the community and due 101 00:05:47,800 --> 00:05:50,320 Speaker 2: course as and when we can. 102 00:05:50,640 --> 00:05:54,280 Speaker 1: In terms of those police officers, obviously understanding the fact 103 00:05:54,320 --> 00:05:57,800 Speaker 1: that they were on duty but we're not working at 104 00:05:57,839 --> 00:06:01,720 Speaker 1: the time, were they wearing body on cameras, not. 105 00:06:01,760 --> 00:06:05,400 Speaker 2: To my knowledge, but there is We as part of 106 00:06:05,440 --> 00:06:10,640 Speaker 2: the investigation have collected some other CCTV and footage from 107 00:06:10,880 --> 00:06:14,000 Speaker 2: within that particular location at the time, which is really 108 00:06:14,000 --> 00:06:15,240 Speaker 2: important for our investigation. 109 00:06:15,800 --> 00:06:17,760 Speaker 1: Are you able to say what that sort of shows 110 00:06:17,800 --> 00:06:18,440 Speaker 1: you at this point? 111 00:06:18,520 --> 00:06:20,440 Speaker 2: So I haven't seen it. I'm not making sure my 112 00:06:20,520 --> 00:06:22,640 Speaker 2: team are assessing that as we speak in ours so 113 00:06:22,839 --> 00:06:26,600 Speaker 2: not my team, the team and obviously I'll know more 114 00:06:26,680 --> 00:06:30,160 Speaker 2: in due course. In relation to those two officers who 115 00:06:30,160 --> 00:06:32,599 Speaker 2: are involved, so one was there right from the beginning 116 00:06:32,600 --> 00:06:36,119 Speaker 2: and the other one came in into the incident soon after. 117 00:06:37,200 --> 00:06:41,720 Speaker 2: We've provided welfare support for those members immediately through their 118 00:06:42,200 --> 00:06:44,480 Speaker 2: management team and our Springs to make sure that their 119 00:06:44,520 --> 00:06:46,720 Speaker 2: well being to be managed through what will be a 120 00:06:46,800 --> 00:06:50,200 Speaker 2: very difficult situation and circumstance for them. And Northern Charity 121 00:06:50,240 --> 00:06:53,040 Speaker 2: Police Association are also not on the ground and also 122 00:06:53,080 --> 00:06:56,680 Speaker 2: providing support to those members, and we're also provide support 123 00:06:56,760 --> 00:07:01,120 Speaker 2: to the more the broader hour Springs policing community as 124 00:07:01,120 --> 00:07:02,760 Speaker 2: well if there's support required. 125 00:07:02,440 --> 00:07:06,080 Speaker 1: For them, I mean, Assistant Commissioner, we're in a you know, 126 00:07:06,120 --> 00:07:08,960 Speaker 1: we know it's always a difficult juggle for police and 127 00:07:09,040 --> 00:07:12,520 Speaker 1: also you know, the community when it comes to well 128 00:07:12,560 --> 00:07:15,520 Speaker 1: to policing right across the Northern territory. I mean, even 129 00:07:15,840 --> 00:07:19,800 Speaker 1: over recent months we've seen a coronial inquest into the 130 00:07:19,840 --> 00:07:23,680 Speaker 1: situation in you and dem We've also seen a coronial 131 00:07:23,680 --> 00:07:27,120 Speaker 1: inquest just this week or last week. In terms of 132 00:07:27,120 --> 00:07:32,000 Speaker 1: the impact that policing can have on police officers, I mean, 133 00:07:32,400 --> 00:07:35,720 Speaker 1: are you concerned about the impact that this death in 134 00:07:35,800 --> 00:07:40,320 Speaker 1: custody may have when it comes to police officers going 135 00:07:40,360 --> 00:07:41,400 Speaker 1: about their duties. 136 00:07:42,320 --> 00:07:46,800 Speaker 2: Not necessarily, we're well trained, we're well skilled, we have 137 00:07:46,880 --> 00:07:50,920 Speaker 2: refresher training constantly, we're well equipped and we have good 138 00:07:51,040 --> 00:07:57,000 Speaker 2: supervision across our membership across the territory. But the specific 139 00:07:57,160 --> 00:07:59,520 Speaker 2: so people involved in the death and custody I've been 140 00:07:59,520 --> 00:08:02,000 Speaker 2: involved in personally and we've had a number over a 141 00:08:02,120 --> 00:08:06,600 Speaker 2: number of years. They're really quite challenging from an individual 142 00:08:06,680 --> 00:08:11,120 Speaker 2: officer perspective, and there needs to be dedicated a specific 143 00:08:11,200 --> 00:08:15,480 Speaker 2: support to those members because for them, unfortunately, as a 144 00:08:15,480 --> 00:08:17,920 Speaker 2: tragedy that's occurred, we have a person who's lost their 145 00:08:17,920 --> 00:08:20,440 Speaker 2: life and police are involved in that, and those police 146 00:08:20,440 --> 00:08:23,680 Speaker 2: officers now have to live with that for the rest 147 00:08:23,720 --> 00:08:25,800 Speaker 2: of their lives. There will be an inquest. As I said, 148 00:08:26,160 --> 00:08:28,160 Speaker 2: so we need to make sure that we're working with 149 00:08:28,200 --> 00:08:32,000 Speaker 2: those members well to manage their well being and support 150 00:08:32,120 --> 00:08:33,320 Speaker 2: them through what this looks like. 151 00:08:33,559 --> 00:08:35,480 Speaker 1: All right, So just before I let you go, we 152 00:08:35,559 --> 00:08:37,240 Speaker 1: know that there is going to be a full and 153 00:08:37,320 --> 00:08:41,280 Speaker 1: thorough investigation. Now you're not expecting or certainly there's a 154 00:08:41,320 --> 00:08:43,840 Speaker 1: lot of work being done to try to keep the 155 00:08:43,880 --> 00:08:48,520 Speaker 1: community calm, to keep everybody calm. So our extra office 156 00:08:48,600 --> 00:08:50,520 Speaker 1: is going to be required to be flown in or 157 00:08:50,559 --> 00:08:52,200 Speaker 1: anything like that at this point in time. 158 00:08:52,559 --> 00:08:54,480 Speaker 2: From an investgative point of view, yes, as I said, 159 00:08:54,600 --> 00:08:58,160 Speaker 2: that's our priority at the moment. We do have to 160 00:08:58,200 --> 00:09:02,040 Speaker 2: the remote community that is referenced earlier. We have provided 161 00:09:02,400 --> 00:09:04,720 Speaker 2: some leadership into that community to go and talk with 162 00:09:04,760 --> 00:09:08,680 Speaker 2: family and engage and deal with that initial contact which 163 00:09:08,679 --> 00:09:13,559 Speaker 2: has been achieved outside of that. As I said, at 164 00:09:13,559 --> 00:09:17,559 Speaker 2: this stage, I implore the community to if you saw 165 00:09:17,760 --> 00:09:20,679 Speaker 2: or heard anything. We do believe there may have been 166 00:09:20,679 --> 00:09:23,640 Speaker 2: an incident that occurred involving the same person who's passed 167 00:09:23,640 --> 00:09:27,480 Speaker 2: away soon before the incident at Cole's at the Commwolf 168 00:09:27,559 --> 00:09:30,439 Speaker 2: Bank in our Springs, So if anyone may have seen 169 00:09:30,520 --> 00:09:34,280 Speaker 2: something that was of interest potentially to investigators, doesn't matter 170 00:09:34,320 --> 00:09:37,000 Speaker 2: how small. Please contact one three, one trough before. There 171 00:09:37,040 --> 00:09:38,880 Speaker 2: is a lot of information the team is working through 172 00:09:38,920 --> 00:09:40,800 Speaker 2: at the moment, and we will get back to you 173 00:09:40,800 --> 00:09:41,480 Speaker 2: in due course. 174 00:09:42,040 --> 00:09:44,760 Speaker 1: What do you believe that incident was that it happens earlier? 175 00:09:44,960 --> 00:09:48,240 Speaker 2: We understand that there was a person, a female who 176 00:09:48,280 --> 00:09:51,360 Speaker 2: was unknown to the person who passed away, and it 177 00:09:51,440 --> 00:09:54,199 Speaker 2: was an assault that looked took place. I don't know 178 00:09:54,240 --> 00:09:57,880 Speaker 2: how serious out a sight was, but where we believe 179 00:09:58,240 --> 00:10:01,760 Speaker 2: that incident may have have occurred just prior to. 180 00:10:02,040 --> 00:10:05,280 Speaker 1: The assaulted all it's correct, okay. 181 00:10:05,120 --> 00:10:08,520 Speaker 2: But again we're piecing that together at the moment, and 182 00:10:09,160 --> 00:10:11,760 Speaker 2: I asked the community to listen to what the police 183 00:10:11,760 --> 00:10:14,680 Speaker 2: are providing into the community by way of media and 184 00:10:14,760 --> 00:10:18,800 Speaker 2: updates for this That is your source of truth, not 185 00:10:19,480 --> 00:10:22,120 Speaker 2: particularly social media reporting or other reporting you may hear 186 00:10:22,200 --> 00:10:24,880 Speaker 2: or see. We will provide as much information as we 187 00:10:24,920 --> 00:10:29,840 Speaker 2: can to provide the necessary information to inform the community. 188 00:10:30,000 --> 00:10:33,880 Speaker 2: Misinformation disinformation in this space is really dangerous for the 189 00:10:33,920 --> 00:10:36,480 Speaker 2: investigation and also for the welfare and wellbeing of the 190 00:10:36,520 --> 00:10:39,920 Speaker 2: police officers, the community, the family of the man who's 191 00:10:39,920 --> 00:10:43,880 Speaker 2: passed away. None of that is helpful in this regard well. 192 00:10:43,880 --> 00:10:47,880 Speaker 1: Assistant Commissioner Travis Wurst, appreciate your time this morning, and 193 00:10:47,960 --> 00:10:50,360 Speaker 1: no doubt police will certainly be keeping us up to 194 00:10:50,480 --> 00:10:54,360 Speaker 1: date as as much as possible. Thank you for joining 195 00:10:54,440 --> 00:10:55,960 Speaker 1: us on the show My pleasure. 196 00:10:56,080 --> 00:10:56,520 Speaker 2: Thank you,