A probe is under way after a 32-year-old man who was taken into the care of police after a city disturbance died at hospital in Inverness.
The Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (Pirc) has been instructed by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service to investigate the death.
Officers were called to a disturbance in West Heather Road, Lochardil, in the Highland capital during the late evening on Saturday.
It is understood the dead man, believed to be from Paisley, had been staying at a home being leased to a construction firm involved with a salmon farm development between Drumnadrochit and Fort Augustus.
A call was made to Police Scotland reporting an alleged disturbance and the man was taken into police care.
He was initially taken to New Craigs Psychiatric Hospital on the western outskirts of the city, a move understood to have been prompted by his behaviour at the time.
However, his condition deteriorated and he was rushed to Raigmore Hospital for medical assistance. He could not be saved.
A Police Scotland spokeswoman said: “We can confirm that we are investigating the sudden death of a 32-year-old man who sadly died at Raigmore hospital in Inverness on Saturday.
“Next of kin have been made aware and the matter has been referred to the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner.”
A spokeswoman for the Pirc said: “The Police Investigations and Review Commissioner has been instructed by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) to investigate the death of a 32-year-old man in Inverness on Saturday.
“A report on the commissioner’s findings will be submitted to the COPFS in due course.”
A resident on West Heather Road said police arrived to deal with a disturbance, and that there was shouting.
Another neighbour said: “There was a police forensic team in white outfits working at the scene the following morning. I saw them dusting for fingerprints on the front door and then going inside.”
He added that a group of men working on a salmon farm down Loch Ness-side had been staying at the property which was being leased out by a letting agency.
No one was at the house yesterday.
