"The Taser was seized for examination," said Rose Bliss, a spokeswoman for the province's Special Investigations Unit.

The SIU said police went to a neighbourhood in Beamsville, west of St. Catharines, early Friday following reports of numerous break-ins in the area.

While on the scene, police tried to arrest a suspect identified as James Foldi, the SIU said in a release.

It was at that time the stun gun was drawn, a weapon Niagara police said they've only been using for a week.

Foldi was then brought into police custody, but was taken to hospital after officers said the suspect appeared to be in "medical distress."

He later died in hospital.

Although the Taser was used during the arrest, Bliss refused to say whether the suspect was actually hit by the Taser.

A post mortem took place Friday afternoon in Hamilton and was attended by the eight-person SIU team investigating the case.

Bliss said the majority of SIU investigations last no longer than 30 days, but was unsure how long their latest case will last.

"We're not going to be rushing to meet any type of deadline, our priority is to be thorough," said Bliss.

The SIU investigates police and civilian incidents when someone is killed or seriously injured.

Foldi's death comes the day after a Surrey, B.C., man died after being Tasered and pepper sprayed by police during his arrest.

Tasers emit a jolt of 50,000 volts that interrupts the body's electrical impulses, causing involuntary muscle seizures.