Ann McGillivary still remembers the look of distress on her son's face while he was tackled by police officers on the day of his death.
"His face turned blue and his eyes were going funny," she told CTV Toronto.
She said her son suffered brain damage after a childhood car accident and didn't understand why the officers were tackling him.
Charles McGillivary, 45, was arrested by Toronto police officers while walking with his mother in the Bloor Street West and Christie Street area Monday evening.
McGillivary collapsed during his arrest and died later that night in hospital.
Ann recalls asking the officers why they zeroed in on her son while the arrest was taking place.
"They said, ‘Oh, he ran and he didn't answer our question,'" said Ann. "And I said, ‘He can't answer your question; he can't talk.'"
Ann says the coroner told her that McGillivray may have suffered a brain hemorrhage after his collapse.
Results of his autopsy haven't been officially released.
The case is now in the hands of the province's Special Investigations Unit (SIU) which has confirmed that the officers were conducting an investigation when they arrested McGillivary. The details of the investigation are not yet known.
The SIU has designated three Toronto police officers as subjects of the investigation. Three investigators and two forensic investigators have been assigned to review the case.
The SIU is asking anyone who may have shot video or photographs of the confrontation to contact the lead investigator at 416-622-1806 or 1-800-787-8529, ext. 1806.
With a report from CTV's Natalie Johnson
