Crocodile Dundee Would’ve Never Stood For This

An aboriginal elder – known only as “Ward” – died in police custody after being arrested for a DUI in Australia’s Outback last year.

And while we’re not criminal pathologists, we’re going to go ahead and term this one “Death By Government.”

From The Star:

The father of four, who was picked up for drunk driving, died of heat stroke on Jan. 27, 2008, succumbing to temperatures of 112 degrees Fahrenheit (50 degrees Celsius) inside the van. The guards provided Ward with only a small bottle of water and did not check on him throughout the journey, (Coroner Alastair) Hope found in the coroner’s hearing. The van had no air conditioning and little to no air flow.

When Ward eventually arrived unconscious at Kalgoorlie hospital, his body was so hot that staff could not cool him down. He had a laceration to his head from falling in the vehicle and a third-degree burn to his stomach from lying on its hot metal floor.

“In my view, it is a disgrace that a prisoner in the 21st century, particularly a prisoner who has not been convicted of any crime, was transported for a long distance in high temperatures in this pod,” Hope said.

Good God.

And we thought our multiple trips in the paddy wagon were rough.

Seriously, though. Crocodile Dundee would have never let something like this happen. After all, Linda Kozlowski’s ageless backside keeps that man motivated to fight for truth, justice and the Outback way.

Update - Wait … Aborigines drive? When did that happen?