SIU investigating after man allegedly set himself on fire in downtown Toronto

Mar 17 2020, 7:59 pm

The Special Investigations Unit is investigating the circumstances around the death of a man who allegedly set himself on fire in Toronto.

The SIU says that at approximately 8:45 am on Tuesday, Toronto Police responded to a call at Church Street and Dundas Street for a man in distress.

Police say that at that time, they were responding to reports of a male pouring accelerant on himself, and setting himself on fire.

They also said that the fire had been extinguished.

According to the SIU, officers attended a nearby convenience store and, after an interaction that reportedly included the deployment of a “conducted energy weapon,” the man was apprehended.

He was reportedly transported to St. Michael’s Hospital for treatment, but later succumbed to his injuries in hospital and was pronounced dead.

Around 12:30 pm, police shared that the SIU had invoked a mandate and, by law, Toronto police could no longer comment on the situation.

The SIU is a civilian agency that investigates death, serious injury, or allegations of sexual assault in incidents involving the police.

The agency says that two has two investigators and two forensic investigators have been assigned.

Further, the SIU is urging anyone who may have information about this investigation to contact the lead investigator at 1-800-787-8529. The Unit is also urging anyone who may have any video evidence related to this incident to upload that video through the SIU website.

Kayla GladyszKayla Gladysz

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