In short:
A man has died in hospital after breaking into a woman’s Mawson Lakes unit and threatening her with a sword.
Police were called to the unit just before midnight and used a taser and pepper spray to subdue the man through a gap in the door.
What’s next?
The man’s death has been declared a death in custody and is subject to a coronal investigation, while police have also launched a Commissioner’s Inquiry.
SA Police have launched an inquiry into the death of a man, after a confrontation with police at a Mawson Lakes unit overnight.
SA Police Assistant Commissioner Scott Duval said police were called to a woman’s unit just before midnight on Sunday, after reports a man had broken in and was threatening a woman with a sword.
He said a 44-year-old man from Globe Derby was taken to the Royal Adelaide Hospital “where he passed away”.
He said a “significant” amount of blood was found at the unit.
“It was an extremely confronting scene for police,” Assistant Commissioner Duval said.
He said a 41-year-old woman living at the unit had “barricaded herself” in a room and called for help.
Police said the woman was known to the man, but they were not in a relationship.
“Police received a number of triple-0 calls, after information a man had broken into a unit and was threatening a woman with a sword,” Assistant Commissioner Duval said.
“Police were able to get partial access to the unit and saw there was a man holding a sword who was subsequently blocking the door.”
Assistant Commissioner Duval said a taser and pepper spray were used to subdue the man through a gap in the door.
He said that once the man was restrained, police noticed the man had severe injuries to his arms and legs.
He was rushed to hospital where he died.
The woman suffered non-life threatening injury to her arm and was also taken to hospital.
Assistant Commissioner Duval said the man had come to the attention of police earlier in the day, when they were called to a Lightsview property around 5.30am Sunday.
“Police attended a Lightsview address after reports a man was threatening people,” he said.
He said police had spoken to the man, who was in an “agitated” state.
“Police remained with him until an ambulance was called and he was taken to the Royal Adelaide Hospital,” Assistant Commissioner Duval said.
The man’s death is being treated as a death in custody and will be subject to a coronial inquest.
Police have also launched a Commissioners Inquiry into the man’s death and the events which led up to it.