Taser death of man in police custody probed by ASIRT

A 49-year-old man died Monday evening after Edmonton police used a stun gun while trying to arrest him.

The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team is now investigating.

Shortly after 11:30 p.m. Monday, police responded to a 911 call from a home in northeast Edmonton.

Once inside, officers were confronted by an agitated man armed with a knife.

Police used a Taser on the man and after a struggle, he was disarmed and taken into custody, police said.

While still in the home, the man went into medical distress. Officers performed first aid until an ambulance arrived, but the man was pronounced dead once he arrived at hospital.

In a statement released Tuesday, ASIRT said its investigation will focus "on the circumstances surrounding the police contact with the deceased, to determine whether police conduct caused the man's death and, if so, whether that conduct constitutes a criminal offence."

The cause of death will be determined by the medical examiner following an autopsy.