By Canadian Press

Thirty-seven-year-old Ottawa man dies after arrest, SIU investigates

Jul 25, 2016 | 2:20 PM

An Ottawa man taken to hospital in critical condition after a confrontation with police died of his injuries, a spokeswoman for the family said Monday.

Nimao Ali said the man involved in the incident Sunday is 37-year-old Abdirahman Abdi.

Ali, who lives in the same building as Abdi and his family, said doctors told the family that Abdi was dead 45 minutes before receiving medical attention Sunday.

“Doctors tried their best to revive him and tried everything they could do to bring him back,” Ali said, adding that family was notified of his death Monday afternoon.

Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit is investigating Abdi’s death. The SIU investigates whenever there is a death, serious injury or allegation of sexual assault involving police in the province.

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It has assigned five investigators and one forensic investigator to the case.

The SIU said police officers responded Sunday morning to a report of a man causing a disturbance. They said officers located the man and, at some point during the confrontation, he suffered medical distress.

Coun. Jeff Leiper for Ottawa’s Kitchissippi Ward said Monday in a statement online that he has received word from many residents offering help to the Abdi family.

“I cannot express fully my grief,” the councillor said in the statement.

Meanwhile, Ali said the family is focusing on Abdi’s funeral arrangements.

“Everything else, they will take it from there one step at a time,” she said.

Daniela Germano, The Canadian Press