SIU investigating after man dies following arrest in Niagara region

SIU investigating after man dies following arrest in Niagara region

Special Investigations Unit says man was arrested on Sept. 27 and died in hospital on Oct. 1

Ontario's police watchdog is now investigating the death of a 40-year-old man following his arrest by officers with the Niagara Regional Police Service.

In a release on Monday, Ontario's Special Investigations Unit (SIU) said preliminary information shows on Sept. 27 police were called to a home in Fort Erie to respond to a disturbance. Police tried to arrest the man for an outstanding warrant and he fled on foot until he was handcuffed following a struggle, the release said.

The man was then taken to the hospital, where he was released and returned to police custody and taken to a cell at the Niagara Falls detachment.

According to the release, the man attempted to harm himself while he was in the cell and was taken back to the hospital on Sept. 28.

On Oct. 1, he was pronounced dead.

A post-mortem was completed on Oct. 3 and the results are pending, the release said.

The SIU said two investigators and one forensic investigator have been assigned to this case.

Two investigators and one forensic investigator have been assigned to the case and the SIU is asking anyone with information about the investigation to contact investigators.

Brittany Spencer is a multi-platform reporter and producer based in Hamilton. She's previously worked with CBC in Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick covering politics, health care and the justice system. She's a graduate of Toronto Metropolitan University's journalism program and joined CBC in 2017. You can reach her at brittany.spencer@cbc.ca.