Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU) has invoked its mandate after a suspect was found unresponsive in a holding cell in eastern Ontario Monday, according to the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP).
Police say officers with the Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry OPP Detachment received a call around midnight reporting a suspected impaired driver in South Dundas Township.
That was when officers stopped a 34-year-old man and seized a prohibited stun gun, suspected fentanyl and suspected crack cocaine and drug paraphernalia.
The man was charged with weapon and drug offences.
He was then taken to the cells at the SD&G Detachment in Long Sault. After several hours, he was found unresponsive, police say.
“Officers provided medical care, paramedics were called, and he was taken to hospital where he remains,” the SIU told CTV News Ottawa in a statement Wednesday.
Police say the province’s watchdog agency was notified, as the incident happened while the suspect was in the OPP custody.
The SIU investigates the conduct of police officers that may have resulted in death, serious injury, sexual assault or discharge of a firearm at a person.