A major investigation into the death of a man has been opened after he was arrested in a scene of a “clash” on a Sydney motorway.
An investigation has been opened into a major critical incident over the death of a man, after pepper spray was used in his arrest “facing” a Sydney motorway.
Police were called to the M5 motorway in Moorebank shortly after 3:35 a.m. Sunday after reports that a man was walking in the middle of the westbound lane.
When officers arrived, they found a shirtless 41-year-old man near the Moorebank Ave exit ramp, entering and exiting traffic.
The commander of the Southwest Metropolitan Area, Deputy Commissioner Stuart Smith, said the scene was “confrontational” for police.
“What they saw there was pretty confrontational,” he said.
“The police interacted with the man and he was given instructions and did not respond to them.”
A fight broke out when police tried to stop him, with a “physical altercation” that caused an officer to spray the man with pepper spray.
Shortly afterwards the man lost consciousness.
He was called by paramedics and taken to Liverpool Hospital, but could not be resurrected and died.
A critical incident team from the homicide team of the State Crime Command will investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident, which will also be subject to an independent review.
Police are appealing to the public for everyone who was on the M5 or who has board camera vision to show up.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 1800 333 000.
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