An Adelaide man has died in police custody after being arrested for a domestic violence assault against his partner at Parafield Gardens, police say.

Police were called to the Bardsley Avenue home following reports of a domestic disturbance.

They said when patrols arrived, they spoke with a woman at the address who reported being assaulted by her partner.

The 50-year-old man was then arrested over the alleged assault, but while being escorted from the address police said he appeared to have suffered from a medical episode and collapsed.

Officers performed CPR until ambulance officers, but attempts by paramedics to revive him failed.

Superintendent Graham Martin said he was confident officers responding to the assault acted in an appropriate and timely fashion.

"Yes, as part of the arrest process the man was handcuffed, but I'd also like to highlight and identify that as soon as they started CPR and first aid, those handcuffs were removed immediately, so it did not impede the attempts to revive him," he said.

"But the actual cause of death will be determined as part of the coronial investigation process."

He said the man and woman had been known to each other before today's incident.

Detectives from the Major Crime Investigation Branch are investigating the cause and circumstances of the man's death and will prepare a report for the coroner.