A 23-year-old New Norfolk man has died overnight while being held at the Hobart Reception Prison.
Tasmania Police Assistant Commissioner Doug Oosterloo said the man had been arrested on Saturday afternoon in New Norfolk in connection with a wounding incident that occurred in Claremont on Friday.
He was taken to Hobart Police Station and transferred into the custody of the Hobart Reception Prison around 5:30pm on Saturday.
Just before 11am today, prison staff alerted police after finding the man unresponsive in his cell.
“Ambulance Tasmania crews were called, Hobart Uniform Police attended and Hobart Reception Prison staff all assisted in attempting to revive the man, but tragically those attempts were unsuccessful and the man was pronounced deceased about 11:30am this morning,” Oosterloo said.
He said the man had been a person of interest in the Claremont wounding incident and that investigation remains ongoing.
A Professional Standards investigation is now underway into the circumstances of the death.
“The scene has been attended by forensic services staff, our forensic specialists, detectives from Professional Standards, the coroner has attended and that is a matter that will be obviously informed by the investigation,” Oosterloo said.
He confirmed all deaths in custody are treated as suspicious until proven otherwise.
“Any unnatural death and any death in custody is treated as suspicious until otherwise proven,” he said.
The cause of death is unknown and will be determined by the Coroner following a post-mortem.
The man’s next of kin have been notified.
“They are understandably devastated and our thoughts are with the family and loved ones of the deceased man at this incredibly difficult time,” Oosterloo said.
Tristian Bell, Acting Director of Prisons, said the matter would be referred to the Coroner for examination.
“This is standard practice whenever a death occurs in a corrections environment,” Bell said.
“On behalf of the Tasmania Prison Service, I extend my sincere condolences to the family and friends of the deceased man at this difficult time.”
