The SIU is investigating an incident that resulted in the death of a 27-year-old St. Catharines man on Saturday.

A release from the Unit said Niagara Regional Police officers responded to a call of a robbery at a pharmacy in the area of Welland Ave. and Catherine St. at approximately 7 a.m. on Friday.

Police officers subsequently arrested a male suspect who was taken to hospital and admitted to the Intensive Care Unit immediately after the arrest.

The man was pronounced dead Saturday at 4:20 p.m.

A witness who was in the pharmacy when the incident occurred said the man had gotten behind the counter and started “drinking pure methadone.”

“The pharmacy guy then came running over and tried to get him away from it. (The man drinking methadone) had needles filled with blood taped to his hands for weapons … another person from pharmacy came to help, they got him to the floor, then police showed up they arrested him and got him to an ambulance but the ambulance didn't leave for the hospital for almost an hour,” said the witness, who didn't want her name mentioned.

“I dont think the cops did anything wrong they just waited to long to actually get him to hospital,” she said.

She identified the pharmacy as Mapleland Pharmacy.

The SIU said two investigators and one forensic investigator have been assigned to the incident.

The Unit is urging anyone who may have information about this investigation to contact the lead investigator at 1-800-787-8529.

Anyone with video evidence is asked to upload the video through the SIU website.

The SIU investigates police reports in which has been a death, serious injury or allegations of sexual assault and has the authority to lay criminal charges against a police officer.