IIO called in to investigate death following pepper spraying

The province's civilian-based police watchdog is investigating the death of a 35-year-old man who was pepper sprayed in the course of his arrest.

The arrest was made after RCMP were calledTuesday shortly after 10:30 p.m. to a report of a man casing vehicles in a 1000-block Central Street West parking lot, according to a statement from the B.C. RCMP.

It said police immediately called for help when he appeared to have trouble breathing once in an RCMP cruiser

"Once an ambulance arrived, the man was taken out of a police car and collapsed," RCMP said.

He was pronounced dead shortly after midnight Wednesday.

Members of the Independent Investigation Office were subsequently notified and were on the scene Wednesday, according to the agency.

The investigation includes gathering physical evidence, designating and interviewing officers and reviewing available video footage.

"The initial focus of the IIO investigation will be to determine if there is a connection between the death of the male and the actions or inactions of police," the agency said. "If there is no connection then the IIO will release jurisdiction, if there is a connection the IIO will continue investigating."

Anyone who witnessed the incident is asked to call the IIO at 1-855-446-8477.

The man's name was not released as of late Wednesday afternoon.