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Adelaide siege: Rodney Clavell found dead inside building, says minister Adelaide siege: Rodney Clavell found dead inside building
(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. Rodney Clavell, the man at the centre of a siege in a central Adelaide building for more than 12 hours, has been found dead.
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 on Thursday the South Australian police minister, Tony Piccolo, told the state’s parliament that officers inside the building had found Clavell’s body. The police operation then ended and roads were reopened.
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. An assistant police commissioner, Paul Dickson, confirmed the news to media and said Clavell’s death would be treated as a death in custody. Police will prepare a report for the coroner.
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”. Clavell, 46, had evaded police since a warrant was issued for his arrest after 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. 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 street. Nearby public transport was suspended while police tried 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. Four women who were inside the building with Clavell came out around midday. Police said they had been able to speak to the women and had negotiated for them to come out, but officers then lost contact with Clavell. It is not clear whether the women were inside willingly.
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. Police deployed a robot inside the building shortly before 1pm, which found Clavell “in a position which led police to believe he was deceased”, Dickson told media. Officers then entered and found his body.
Fourth woman escorted from #Clavell siege breaks down, weeps. @theTiser pic.twitter.com/NyzlfMNRQ8 “This incident … has had a significant impact on the community,” Dickson said. “We appreciate the community support in this period of time because of that inconvenience. They have provided us with assistance and understanding.
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. “In the 14 days we’ve been looking for Mr Clavell, information has come to us suggesting he has committed other serious offences. Obviously this has impacted on our desire and commitment to find him.”
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.” The offences include an alleged assault on a woman in Elizabeth Park, by an assailant – believed to be Clavell – carrying a shotgun.
Dickson said it was distressing the siege had ended with Clavell’s death. “Our role in society is to look after the community and try and resolve things in a safe way,” he said.
“Mr Clavell was a member of our community and we treated him the same way we treat anyone else. Our aim has always been to safely resolve this incident.”
Clavell, who was the subject of a two-week manhunt, had been holed up inside the building since 1am on Thursday. The women left the building with their hands in the air, escorted by police. Meanwhile, police with guns drawn moved closer to the building.
One of the women was visibly distressed. Superintendent Peter Harvey said police information was that they were unhurt, and they would be questioned.
“We can all say the four females who were in that premise had a harrowing experience, certainly since 1am this morning and probably before that as well,” Dickson said after Clavell’s death.
It was not known if Clavell had any kind of relationship with any of them. “I think he probably had some belief that he was relatively safe at the premises,” Dickson said.
Unable to contact the fugitive directly, Harvey pleaded earlier with him 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.”“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.” Harvey also 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. Police had chased Clavell around Adelaide for the 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 stungunned by police after a chase through the Adelaide Hills in which he was armed with a shotgun and driving a grader. He was later sentenced to four years in prison.
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. Four years later Clavell was accused of inciting a riot at a jail in Port Augusta. Adelaide magistrates court was told in 2011 that Clavell had beckoned inmates to join him. Thirty-five prisoners took over a section of the jail and rioted for three days.
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 early in the morning.
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. “We know that you have concerns about your safety. They are probably understandable because you're on the run.
“For everyone's benefit we need to start talking to you,” Harvey said to the cameras. "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 siege had nothing to do with Clavell’s previous run-ins with law enforcement but his known propensity for violence was of consideration.
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.