The Associated Press
TORONTO (CP) -- The province’s Special Investigations Union is probing the death of a man who was pepper-sprayed by city police early Monday.
Police say they were called to a disturbance in the city’s east end and officers became involved in a confrontation with a man they described as emotionally unstable.
Residents awakened by the disturbance said the man was naked and screaming in the middle of the street.
They also said he appeared to be armed with a knife and lunged at police, who repeatedly told the man to get down.
The SIU said pepper-spray was used and the man died on the way to hospital despite the efforts of an ambulance crew to save him.
The man, who has not been identified, was pronounced dead on arrival at hospital.
The SIU says seven investigators have been assigned to the case, including two forensic experts.
Investigators were shooting video and photographs near two vehicles parked at the scene of the confrontation.
The SIU investigates any injury, death, or sex assault that occurs during police operations.