Manitoba's police watchdog investigates after man found unresponsive in holding room dies

Manitoba's police watchdog the Independent Investigation Unit of Manitoba is investigating after a 52-year-old man arrested early Sunday morning was found unresponsive in a holding room, taken to hospital and later pronounced dead.

Winnipeg police said in a news release Sunday that officers arrested theman in the 100 block of King Edward Street East regarding an outstanding warrant just before 4 a.m.

The man was taken to downtown police headquartersaround 4:23 a.m. andwas medically cleared by an onsite central processing unit paramedic before being placed in a holding room, according to the release.

The release said central processing unit members doing a scheduled check found the man unresponsive in the holding room around7:30 a.m.

An onsite paramedic provided emergency medical care to the man, before he was taken to St. Boniface Hospital and later pronounced dead, the IIU said on a news bulletin Monday morning.

The IIU which investigates all serious matters involving police in the province hastaken over the investigation, andasked theManitoba Police Commission to appoint a civilian monitor for the investigation.