Quebec watchdog probing death of man who allegedly jumped in river to evade arrest

SAINT-LIN-LAURENTIDES, Que. — Quebec’s police watchdog is investigating the death of a man who allegedly jumped into a river northeast of Montreal to evade police.

The Bureau des enquêtes indépendantes said police divers found the 27-year-old man’s body today, several hours after police tried to stop the man’s car.

The watchdog says police attempted to stop a vehicle driving with its headlights off around 1:20 a.m. and began a pursuit when the driver allegedly refused to pull over.

The independent police oversight agency says the driver stopped the car about a kilometre away in the driveway of a private residence in St-Lin-Laurentides, Que.