Daniel Alfred Yock (7 February 1975 – 7 November 1993) was an Aboriginal Australian dancer and amateur boxer who died shortly after being arrested by officers from the Queensland Police Service.
[2] The police officers in the cab later claimed in the ensuing judicial inquiry that they didn't hear Blair's cries for attention.
[2] Finally realising the seriousness of the situation, police officers struggled to find the keys to get the Yock's handcuffs removed before attempting to resuscitate him.
[1] It was also reported that Yock had experienced a number of fainting spells in the past including one that had been recorded on video during one of his boxing matches.
[1] Queensland premier Wayne Goss said the circumstances surrounding Yock being arrested, placed in a police van, and then being found dead would raise serious questions in the mind of any reasonable person.
[2] However, Deputy Commissioner Greg Early said the four officers involved in Yock's arrest would not be suspended from duty but they had been given orders not to deal with the Aboriginal community until the issue was resolved.
[3] A violent brawl between protesters and white youths also occurred in the carpark of the Roma Street Transit Centre opposite the police headquarters.
[7][8] Questions were raised about various issues pertaining to how the Queensland Police Service dealt with Aboriginal people, including unwarranted surveillance, racial profiling and stop and searches.
[9] It concluded Yock died from an Stokes-Adams syndrome attack complicated by Ischaemic heart disease and drug intoxication.
[9] The vice-president of the Aboriginal Legal Service Sam Watson rejected the calls for an apology stating that it would be comparable to asking Jewish people to apologise for Auschwitz.
[9] On 30 September 1994, Fogarty filed a lawsuit against the Goss government and police commissioner Jim O'Sullivan claiming an unspecified amount of money for damages for post-traumatic stress disorder and a depressive illness which occurred following his brother's death.
[2] Sam Watson wrote an article for The Sydney Morning Herald entitled "Turning Points" in which he described his account of what occurred when Yock died and detailed the hostile relationship that existed between the Aboriginal community and the police.