Officers 'acted appropriately' during arrest death at Clare, top cop says

Tue 9 Jun 2026 at 5:18pm

Tue 9 Jun 2026 at 5:18pm

In short:

The officers involved in the arrest of a man who died at Clare on Sunday acted appropriately, SA Police Commissioner Grant Stevens says.

The commissioner said he was satisfied a "preliminary view" of body warn vision from the incident showed the officers acted with "professionalism and courage".

What's next?

A senior officer will conduct a Commissioner's Inquiry, but the incident has not been referred to the Office of Public Integrity or the Independent Commission Against Corruption.

The police officers involved in the arrest of a man who died at Clare on the weekend after an "ineffective" taser activation "acted appropriately", South Australia's top police officer says.

SA Police Commissioner Grant Stevens said body worn video of the incident involving a 44-year-old man who was armed with a metal pole and threatening several people at Opie Street, in the Mid North town, highlighted the "professionalism and courage of the police".

"I am satisfied that a preliminary view of the body worn video shows that the officers acted appropriately and within general orders

'' Commissioner Stevens said.

"Having viewed the body worn video, it is clear the responding officers were confronted by an agitated man behaving in a threatening and aggressive manner.

"This person was also threatening an elderly man and woman."

"The body worn video highlights the professionalism and courage of the police and their efforts to ensure the safety of all present, including the male causing the disturbance."

Commissioner Stevens also acknowledged the efforts a member of the public provided to the officers who were trying to restrain the man.

In a statement on Tuesday, police said that when officers arrived at the scene about 12:30pm on Sunday "the man was damaging property with the metal pole, and two officers and several civilians were subsequently threatened by the man".

"Police attempted to disarm the man and subsequently deployed an ECD (taser)."

Police previously said the taser was activated but was "ineffective" and the man, from Ward Belt, near Gawler, became unresponsive during his arrest.

Police rendered first aid before ambulance officers arrived and treated the man, but he died at the scene.

Commissioner's Inquiry underway

Major Crime and Ethical and Professional Standards detectives are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident, and a senior police officer will undertake a Commissioner's Inquiry.

But, in a statement police said it has "not referred this incident to either the Office of Public Integrity (OPI) or the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC)".

"The OPI [oversees] matters relating to the Police Complaints and Discipline Act 2016, however neither the OPI or the ICAC oversee Commissioner's Inquiries," police said in the statement.

It follows comments from Police Minister Michael Brown on Monday, who said the OPI and ICAC would have oversight of the investigation.

"I have confidence that it will be done in a thorough, professional manner and that we'll get answers to the questions that are outstanding," he said.