Man who died during arrest had been living in relative’s caravan
Updated . First published
A man who died when police tried detaining him with a Taser was living in a caravan on his grandparent’s South Australian property.
Residents told 9News they witnessed Cameron Bruce Voight, 44, from Ward Belt, East Gawler, go on a rampage before allegedly attacking their belongings in Clare.
Several holes were punched into Sorayah White’s shed, police said, after he went on a rampage with a star picket. 9News
The tight-knit community about 120 kilometres north of Adelaide is grappling with what unfolded on Opie Street.
Police said when they tried to disarm the man and stop him from damaging property two officers were threatened and they used a Taser.
Several holes were punched into Sorayah White’s shed, police said, after he went on a rampage with a star picket yesterday afternoon.
A man who died when police tried detaining him with a Taser was living in a caravan on his grandparent’s South Australian 9News
“There were two police officers. They kind of hit his arm but he had kind of a thick jumper on him so it didn’t affect him,” White said.
Neighbours said officers held him down for several minutes before he stopped moving.
Police say the 44-year-old man threatened officers with a metal pole before a taser was used in Clare in the Clare Valley, 136 km north of Adelaide. 9News
“They did well. They weren’t rough and they were really trying to calm him down with words and stuff for a while,” White said.
Voight’s grandparents told 9News he lived in a caravan in front of their home.
9News understands he had been living in the caravan with his dog for six months. It was hoped it would be a fresh start.
Assistant Commissioner David O’Donovan yesterday said police used a Taser after the man threatened them but it was “ineffective”.
“Police were then involved in going hands-on with the offender,” he said.
“And obviously during the arrest it was then that he became unresponsive.”
Police gave first aid but he died.
The death will be the subject of a police commissioner’s enquiry, with a report now being prepared for the coroner.
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