A man has died while being restrained by police at a supermarket following an altercation with security.

Officers were alerted of the incident with the security guard at Alice Springs’ Coles store about 1.10pm on Tuesday, police said.

Two Northern Territory officers were in the store at the time and restrained the man.

“A short time later, the man stopped breathing and CPR was commenced,” an NT police statement said.

Emergency services arrived and the man was taken to Alice Springs Hospital, but he was pronounced dead about 2.20pm.

“A crime scene was established, and the shopping centre is expected to remain closed,” the police statement said.

“The incident is being investigated as a death in custody.”

Major Crime Section detectives are travelling to Alice Springs, with police investigating the incident on behalf of the coroner.

-AAP