MAN DIES AS POLICE RAID HOME

A Toronto man is dead after a struggle with police in his home early Friday
morning.

The provincial Special Investigations Unit is probing the death of Paolo
Botelho, 34, in what appears to have been a drug bust that went wrong.

Police had no comment on the incident, while the SIU, which investigates
incidents involving police that result in serious injury or death, released
only a brief statement.

But a man who identified himself to reporters as the dead man's cousin
angrily denied Botelho had any involvement with drugs.

The incident began shortly after 1:30 a.m. Friday, when police with a
drug-related search warrant entered a duplex on Mulock Ave., in the St.
Clair Ave. and Keele St. area, according to the SIU statement.

"The officers were attempting to arrest a man inside the home and became
involved in a struggle with him," the statement read. "At approximately
2:07 a.m., police requested an ambulance because the man was having trouble
breathing."

The man died at St. Joseph's Hospital.

There were several officers and other people in the house at the time, said
Rose Bliss of the SIU.

Tony Costa, who identified himself as Botelho's cousin, said yesterday at
the scene that he is furious with police.

"Paul had nothing to do with this," Costa said. "He doesn't even smoke."

Botelho lived in the house with his wife and six children, as well as his
sister and her family, Costa said, adding that Botelho worked as a
landscaper and delivery person.

The house had a child's hand-made paper Christmas tree displayed from an
upstairs window yesterday.

A post-mortem examination is scheduled for today.

The last incident involving Toronto police to be probed by the SIU took
place Wednesday, after a speeding minivan, apparently being pursued by
police, lost control and injured two men on Finch Ave. E. in Scarborough.