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Adelaide siege: Rodney Clavell found dead inside building, says minister | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Rodney Clavell, the man involved in a siege with South Australian police for more than 12 hours, has been found dead, the state’s police minister has announced. | |
Earlier, four unidentified women emerged from the Adelaide building where Clavell, who was the subject of a two-week manhunt, had been holed up inside since 1am on Thursday. | |
About 2.30pm the South Australian police minister, Tony Piccolo, told the state’s parliament that Clavell had been found dead by police inside the building. The police operation and road closures soon ended. | |
Clavell, 46, had evaded police since a warrant was issued for his arrest over a “serious” breach of a firearms prohibition order on 20 May. Police described him as “dangerous”. | |
On Thursday morning police urged people to stay away from the Adelaide city centre after they cordoned off a block on King William Street where they believed Clavell was, along with several other people, and closed the entire street. Public transport was suspended between several streets while police attempted to reach out to Clavell. | |
Police were initially hesitant to call the people inside the building hostages, but described them as “innocent people inside … who are not allowed to leave”, Superintendent Peter Harvey said on Thursday morning. | Police were initially hesitant to call the people inside the building hostages, but described them as “innocent people inside … who are not allowed to leave”, Superintendent Peter Harvey said on Thursday morning. |
About midday on Thursday four women were seen leaving the building with their hands in the air, escorted by police. Police with guns drawn had also moved closer to the building. | |
Fourth woman escorted from #Clavell siege breaks down, weeps. @theTiser pic.twitter.com/NyzlfMNRQ8 | Fourth woman escorted from #Clavell siege breaks down, weeps. @theTiser pic.twitter.com/NyzlfMNRQ8 |
One of the women was visibly distressed. Harvey said police information was that none of the women were hurt, and they would be questioned. “They are our best source of what happened inside,” he said. | |
Harvey pleaded earlier with Clavell through an interview on ABC News: “Rodney, think of them, think of yourself. There is a way out and it’s very, very simple. It’s about talking.” | |
“Nothing is as bad as it might seem. This doesn’t have to escalate.” | |
Harvey earlier said: “He has a violent past where he’s been involved in violent shootouts with police and has been shot by police. He’s served his time for that.” | |
Police had chased Clavell around Adelaide for the past two days, with numerous reported sightings across the city, the Advertiser reported. | |
“We’ve done 80 raids over the last four days, and this is the culmination of a lot of detective work,” Harvey told ABC News. | “We’ve done 80 raids over the last four days, and this is the culmination of a lot of detective work,” Harvey told ABC News. |
In 2004 Clavell, a former prison guard, was shot twice and stun gunned by police after a chase through the Adelaide Hills in which he was armed with a shotgun and driving a grader. He was sentenced to four years in prison for the incident. | In 2004 Clavell, a former prison guard, was shot twice and stun gunned by police after a chase through the Adelaide Hills in which he was armed with a shotgun and driving a grader. He was sentenced to four years in prison for the incident. |
In 2008 Clavell was accused of inciting a riot at a jail in Port Augusta. Adelaide magistrates court was told in 2011 that Clavell beckoned inmates to join him, before 35 prisoners took over a section of the jail and rioted for three days. | |
Police said they had been trying to make contact with Clavell inside the Adelaide building since 1am and urged him to reach out. | Police said they had been trying to make contact with Clavell inside the Adelaide building since 1am and urged him to reach out. |
“For everyone's benefit we need to start talking to you,” Harvey said to the cameras. | “For everyone's benefit we need to start talking to you,” Harvey said to the cameras. |
“We know that you have concerns about your safety. They are probably understandable because you're on the run. The reality is … we want to end this peacefully. I am here to make sure it ends peacefully … all we need is for you to speak to us, and to come out and it can be resolved peacefully.” | “We know that you have concerns about your safety. They are probably understandable because you're on the run. The reality is … we want to end this peacefully. I am here to make sure it ends peacefully … all we need is for you to speak to us, and to come out and it can be resolved peacefully.” |
Harvey said Thursday’s incident had nothing to do with Clavell’s previous run-ins with law enforcement but his known propensity for violence was of consideration. | |