Aboriginal man Anzac Sullivan, 37, fourth Indigenous person to die in police custody in three weeks

A man who died during a police pursuit in Broken Hill, NSW, is the fourth Aboriginal man to die in custody in three weeks, the Aboriginal Legal Service says.

Barkindji man Anzac Sullivan, 37, died on March 18. Police allege he ran from officers after they visited a home on Silver Street in relation to an outstanding warrant.

Police said the man suffered a medical episode and he was given CPR before he was taken to Broken Hill Hospital, where he died.

“Anzac was a loved brother, nephew, son and uncle. He was loved by many in his community and he will be missed,” said the man‘s sister Donna Sullivan.

He was mourned by his siblings and extended family, the ALS said.

The service‘s principal solicitor in the NSW and ACT, Sarah Crellin, said: “Any death in custody is an absolute tragedy, and our hearts go out to the Sullivan family and their community. We are devastated and furious that another precious life has been lost.”

Mr Sullivan’s death came after two Aboriginal people in NSW, and one in Victoria, died in prisons within a three-week span.

“For four deaths to occur in the space of a little over a fortnight is a huge red flag that something is seriously wrong with police and corrections systems in Australia,” Ms Crellin said.

Police have opened a critical incident investigation to probe the incident, which will be conducted by a team from the Central North Police District.

That investigation will then be subject to an independent review, the force said.

The findings will be provided to the coroner who will determine the cause of death and “make any findings about the events leading to the man’s death”, police said in a statement.

The ALS called for an urgent independent investigation of Mr Sullivan’s death.

The service said 500 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people had died in custody since a royal commission was conducted into the issue.

Many of the recommendations from the 1987-1991 Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody had not been implemented, the ALS said.

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