35-year-old father of 2 dead after police called to home in Vaughan
Special Investigations Unit investigating after man died following 'interaction' with officer
A 35-year-old man is dead after police in York Region were called to a home in a residential neighbourhood in Vaughan late Monday.
York Regional Police were called to a home on Jade Crescent at about 11 p.m. for a "domestic dispute," the force said in a news release Tuesday morning. Police say they had information that the man was trying to light a fire in the house.
What happened next is now the subject of an investigation by Ontario's police watchdog.
In a news release Tuesday, the Special Investigations Unit said there was then an "interaction" between the man and an officer. The release did not say if the officer used a weapon.
Other officers eventually arrived at the home and "assisted with the man's arrest," said the SIU.
During the course of the arrest, the SIU says the man lost vital signs. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
No further information about him was available early Tuesday.
Police initially said that one of the officers sustained "significant injuries," but later described the injuries as minor.
Neighbours told CBC News the man was a father of two and lived in the home with his wife and children.
"The husband was always very nice and cordial with me," said Nancy Russo, adding she was "shocked and surprised this happened."
Other neighbours said they had observed the man acting strangely in the past and said police had been called to the home before.
"I [was] so surprised and heavy-hearted when I heard this news," neighbour Nira Jay said.
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.
The agency is appealing for any witnesses to contact the lead investigator at 1-800-787-8529. Anyone with video of the incident is urged to submit it through the SIU's website.