Man dies after police use pepper spray in ‘confronting’ arrest on Sydney’s M5 motorway

A major investigation has been launched into a man’s death after he was arrested in a ‘confronting’ scene on a Sydney motorway.

A major critical incident investigation has been launched into a man’s death, after pepper spray was used in his ‘confronting’ arrest on a Sydney motorway.

Police were called to the M5 motorway in Moorebank shortly after 3.35am on Sunday following reports that a man was walking in the middle of the westbound lane.

When officers arrived, they found a “heavy set” 41-year-old shirtless man near the Moorebank Ave off-ramp, running in and out of traffic.

The man was walking around the M5 motorway at Moorebank Ave early on Sunday. Picture: Supplied

Commander of the South West Metropolitan Region, Assistant Commissioner Stuart Smith, said the scene was “confronting” for police.

“What they saw there was quite confronting,” he said.

“Police interacted with the male and he was given directions and he was non-responsive to those.”

A struggle ensued as police tried to take him into custody, with a “physical altercation” that led to an officer spraying the man with pepper spray.

A short time later the man lost consciousness.

Paramedics were called and they took him to Liverpool Hospital, but he was unable to be revived and died.

A critical incident team from State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad will investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident, which will also be subjected to an independent review.

Police are appealing to the public for anyone who was on the M5 or has dashcam vision to come forward.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Originally published as Man dies after police use pepper spray in ‘confronting’ arrest on Sydney’s M5 motorway