SIU investigating after man dies in CBSA custody at Peterborough hospital

Ontario’s police watchdog is investigating after a 39-year-old man died in custody at a Peterborough, Ont. hospital on Thursday.

Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit said in a statement that the unidentified man was in the custody of the Central East Correctional Centre in Lindsay, Ont. when he was admitted to the Peterborough Regional Health Centre for medical reasons.

At about 1 a.m. Thursday, the man became agitated and at the request of medical staff he was restrained by police officers and health professionals, the SIU stated.

An officer from the Peterborough Police Service and an officer from the OPP Peterborough Detachment were reportedly providing security at the time of the man’s death.

The SIU said shortly after being restrained, the man was found without vital signs and was pronounced dead.

The Canada Border Services Agency said in an release that a man being detained by the agency had died at the hospital and that the family of the deceased had been notified, but the man’s identity would not be released at this time.

CBSA said it would also be reviewing the circumstances surrounding the unidentified detainee’s death but no further information would be released while the investigation is ongoing.

Four SIU investigators and two forensic investigators have been assigned to investigate the death.

Anyone with information related to the incident is asked to contact the SIU.

The SIU is an arm’s length agency that investigates reports involving police where there has been death, serious injury or allegations of sexual assault.