A Special Investigation Unit (SIU) team from Toronto is examining the details of an incident last week that had members of the Shelburne Police Services and Dufferin OPP in a stand-off with a man who barricaded himself inside the garage of a residence on Andrew Street.

Police were called to the residence last Wednesday at about 3 p.m., having responded to a call concerning an incident at a home and when police arrived a man was found barricaded in the garage.

After trying to negotiate with the man and suspecting he was armed, Shelburne police officers contacted the OPP for assistance.

An OPP emergency response team and tactical rescue unit arrived about 3:24 p.m.

Area residents were asked to stay away from the area, some neighbouring homes were evacuated and other residents were advised not to go outside while the man remained barricaded.

Police entered the building around midnight, nine hours after the stand-off began, and according to the SIU news release, the man was found in medical distress. He was taken to Headwaters Health Care Centre and then transferred to St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto in a coma.

According to a media report, a man entered his estranged wife's residence, cut a padlock to the garage and refused to leave.

It was also reported that a "distraction device" was used by the tactical officers before entry was gained and the subject was placed under arrest in a comatose state.

Police can no longer comment on the case since the incident is being looked into by the SIU and Police Chief Kent Moore was not sure how long the investigation would take.

"Our hands are tied right now and we cannot make any comments about this case," he said.

The SIU is a civilian government agency that investigates circumstances involving police and civilians which involve serious injury or death.

Under Section 113 of the Police Services Act, the director of the SIU has the authority to decide whether charges are warranted based on the findings of an investigation.