Ontario's police watchdog investigating after man dies in Thunder Bay hospital days following arrest

Ontario's police watchdog is investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a 59-year-old man over the weekend at a hospital in Thunder Bay.

The Special Investigations Unit (SIU) says Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officers attended a business in the area of Koval Street and Patricia Avenue in Pickle Lake on Wednesday, according to the SIU's statement issued Monday afternoon. There, while dealing with a group of individuals,officers noticed a person behind them who required medical attention.

After the man was medically cleared by emergency medical services, officers arrested him and brought him to the police detachment, said the statement. It is unclear at this time what led to the man's arrest.

The man went into medical distress at the police detachment and was transported to a local medical facility before being airlifted to a hospital in Thunder Bay, the statement said.

He was pronounced dead in hospital on Saturday, said the SIU.

The SIU is an independent agency that investigates the conduct of police officers in incidents that may have resulted in death, serious injury, the discharge of a firearm or allegations of sexual assault.

Two investigators and one forensic investigator have been assigned to the Thunder Bay case. The SIU encourages anyone with information about the investigation, including photos or videos, to contact the lead investigator at 1-800-787-8529 or online.