Security guard dies after chasing shoplifting suspect
Jan 09, 2008 09:16 PM
JACKSON HAYES
STAFF REPORTER
One man collapsed dead after chasing a suspected shoplifter in Markham today.
A security guard at the No Frills store in the Markham Rd. and Steeles Ave. area approached the unidentified suspect around 2:15 this afternoon. After a brief confrontation the suspect fled the scene with some stolen meat.
The security guard, a 51-year-old man from Toronto, gave chase through the parking lot and off the property before hailing a passing police cruiser. York officers chased down the man and wrangled the shoplifter to the ground before arresting him on the south side of Steeles Ave., roughly a kilometre away from the store.
According to Det. Don Dalgleish of York Regional Police Five District, the security guard was giving his statement to police approximately five minutes later when he collapsed in a heap.
“He was talking to the officer and he just fell over,” said Dalgleish.
An ambulance was called and despite the efforts of officers to save the man, he died on scene.
At this point, police are treating the death and the shoplifting as two separate incidents and are not linking the initial confrontation with the man’s death. Det. Dalgleish said more would be known following the scheduled autopsy tomorrow at 9:30 a.m.
This particular No Frills store contracts their security out to a private company and it is not yet known what company the man worked for.
Identification is pending the notification of his next of kin.
Jan 09, 2008 09:16 PM
JACKSON HAYES
STAFF REPORTER
One man collapsed dead after chasing a suspected shoplifter in Markham today.
A security guard at the No Frills store in the Markham Rd. and Steeles Ave. area approached the unidentified suspect around 2:15 this afternoon. After a brief confrontation the suspect fled the scene with some stolen meat.
The security guard, a 51-year-old man from Toronto, gave chase through the parking lot and off the property before hailing a passing police cruiser. York officers chased down the man and wrangled the shoplifter to the ground before arresting him on the south side of Steeles Ave., roughly a kilometre away from the store.
According to Det. Don Dalgleish of York Regional Police Five District, the security guard was giving his statement to police approximately five minutes later when he collapsed in a heap.
“He was talking to the officer and he just fell over,” said Dalgleish.
An ambulance was called and despite the efforts of officers to save the man, he died on scene.
At this point, police are treating the death and the shoplifting as two separate incidents and are not linking the initial confrontation with the man’s death. Det. Dalgleish said more would be known following the scheduled autopsy tomorrow at 9:30 a.m.
This particular No Frills store contracts their security out to a private company and it is not yet known what company the man worked for.
Identification is pending the notification of his next of kin.
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