Community leaders are calling for calm in Alice Springs after a night of rioting outside the hospital where alleged child killer Jefferson Lewis was taken after his arrest, which saw an angry crowd throwing rocks and lighting a police car on fire, with Lewis later flown to Darwin to restore calm.

Police used tear gas and rubber bullets to disburse the crowd of hundreds who had assembled to demand vengeance against Lewis.

The family of Kumanjayi Little Baby issued a statement Friday morning, calling on the Central Australian community to remain calm and for bush communities to “carefully consider their need to travel to Mparntwe/Alice Springs at this time”.

“Everyone is feeling very upset and emotions are very high, I understand that,” said Robin Granites, senior Warlpiri elder and spokesperson for the family of Kumantjayi Little Baby.

“What has happened this week is not our way. Our children are precious, of course we are feeling angry and hurt at what has happened.

“It is time now for sorry business, to show respect for our family and have space for grieving and remembering.

“This man has been caught, thanks to community action, and we must now let justice take its course while we take the time to mourn Kumantjayi Little Baby and support our family.”

Lewis was found at Charles Creek Camp by a “group of vigilantes” Thursday night who allegedly bashed him before police were called. A video taken at the scene and shared on social media, reportedly showed a man on a stretcher being taken to an ambulance while people shouted “murderer” and called for his death.

Kumantjayi Little Baby’s body was found just before noon Thursday, five kilometres from the town camp after going missing late Saturday night. Police said a post-mortem would be conducted Friday to determine the cause and time of death.

Police cars and bins were lit on fire outside the Alice Springs Hospital after Lewis was admitted in an unconscious state. A nearby Shell service station was also smashed up.

Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro flew to Alice Springs to hold a press conference with Police Commissioner Martin Dole Friday morning, ordering the sale of alcohol to be prohibited in the town on Friday and restricted hours on Saturday.

“Attacks on frontline workers are never acceptable, and whilst we appreciate and understand that people are very angry and grieving, there is never an excuse or an acceptability of violence as a response,” she said.

“Our police and our emergency services have a very important job to do and we have to let them do that job. And so we are very hopeful that that was an isolated incident and should not define what has been an incredible community effort [to search for Kumantjayi Little Baby].

“Now, of course, the very important police work continues, and we have to let our police do that work.”

Mr Dole echoed Ms Finocchiaro’s comments about the conduct of the public Thursday night outside the hospital, saying it “cannot be explained away, excused or accepted” and that charges will be laid against some of the rioters.

“For those people involved, you will face the law just as Jefferson Lewis is facing the law, and your behaviour will not be accepted by us. I just call for calm across the community,” he said.

“I’d just like to thank the community for the support [in the search] that we’ve seen so far, and call on strong leadership to quell that behaviour today, and hopefully we won’t see any more of it continuing.”

Mr Dole said police found Lewis unconscious Thursday night and was being treated by paramedics when “they were set upon” by an angry crowd. He said Lewis had presented himself to a town camp and was attacked by an angry group of vigilantes, with police stopping them “quickly”.

“[Lewis] has been released from Northern Territory Health, and he’s with the Northern Territory Police in our custody, so his injuries aren’t significant enough to keep him in hospital,” he said.

He added those who assaulted Lewis would also be facing charges, as would those who attacked frontline staff. Several police officers were injured during the riot at the hospital as were paramedics.

One woman was arrested for attempting to light a police car on fire.

Mr Dole said three or four police vehicles were “significantly damaged” and four of the five St John ambulances in Alice Springs were severely damaged and needed to be “taken out of action”. Fire and rescue vehicles were also damaged.

Charges will also be laid against people who allegedly harboured Lewis while police searched for him during the week, Mr Dole said.

Mr Granites reiterated his calls for calm.

“Now is not the time to be heroes on social media or make trouble,” Mr Granites said.

“We must be mindful Mparntwe is traditional country for Central Arrernte, and East and Western Arrernte as well. We must respect that and their ways.

“We need to be strong for each other; we must respect family and cultural practice. This is the Yapa way.”