Nova Scotia’s Serious Incident Response Team is investigating after a 66-year-old man died while in police custody.
Cape Breton Regional Police arrested the man, who has not been identified, around 8:30 p.m. Sunday after searching a vehicle waiting to board the Newfoundland-Labrador ferry at the North Sydney terminal.
The man was taken to a cell in Sydney, where police noted he was in medical distress.
According to Ron MacDonald, the director of SIRT, police administered first aid and CPR until paramedics arrived on the scene.
The man was taken to the Cape Breton Regional Hospital where he later died.
The case has been turned over to SIRT, which is responsible for investigating all serious incidents involving police in Nova Scotia, whether or not there is an allegation of wrongdoing.
Anyone who may have witnessed the incident is asked to call SIRT at 902-424-2010.
