A corona report is being prepared on the death of a 29-year-old man who was in police custody.
The man was arrested about 1.55am on Saturday morning after police received reports he was behaving “in a suspicious and erratic manner” in Hobart’s northern suburb of Moonah.
A 29-year-old man has died at the Hobart Reception Prison after being taken into custody in the early hours of Saturday
He was taken to Hobart Reception Prison where he was remanded in custody.
The man was found unconscious at 2.30am and despite attempts by police and later paramedics to revive him, he died a short time later.
Deputy Commissioner Adrian Bodnar said the man was arrested for ‘a simple crime’ within the meaning of the Police Crimes Act.
“People are certainly not arrested just because they look suspicious, there are other elements that the police have to be satisfied with,” he said.
Assistant Commissioner Bodnar said he could not comment on why the man became unresponsive.
‘As the matter is now before the coroner I am very limited in what I can say. That will obviously form part of the coronial investigation that the coroner will have to consider,” Assistant Commissioner Bodnar said.
Assistant Commissioner Adrian Bodnar said the man’s death was being investigated by the coroner
Police are preparing the report for the coroner, who will investigate all aspects of the man’s death, including the circumstances of his arrest.
The Tasmania Police Professional Standards Command is also investigating the death and the Integrity Commission has also been notified.