Police investigate after body found in SUV in city's west end

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Toronto police are investigating a suspicious death after a passerby called them to an SUV with a man's body inside on Wednesday morning.

Police said they were called at 8:05 a.m. to a residential area near Rusholme Road and Dewson Street, near College and Dufferin Streets. The death is classed as "suspicious" and it's too soon to say whether it's a homicide or not, Constable Tony Vella said.

"We're still trying to determine what caused this man's death," he said.

Several cruisers and police tape blocked off Dewson Street between Rusholme and Havelock Streets while a forensics van waited near the silver Nissan Pathfinder shortly after 11 a.m. Police knocked on doors and talked to neighbours on the quiet residential street. The coroner arrived and the vehicle was towed away in the early afternoon.

The outside of the SUV and its windows didn't appear damaged as it was taken away.

Initially, police did not release the deceased's gender, but Staff Sergeant Steve French later said the person was male, although no age was given. Police said a post mortem hadn't been scheduled as of late Wednesday afternoon, which will be key to determining whether there was foul play.

Two people who live on Dewson Street said neighbours park on the street regularly, making their vehicles easily recognizable. But they said they didn't recognize the Pathfinder.

"Nobody knows whose vehicle it is," said John Dondertman, who lives a few houses down.

He said he saw the vehicle when he got up to take his kids to school and when he got home the road was blocked off.

Another man, John Jones, who said he lives at the corner of Dewson and Havelock Streets, said police had been into his building to talk to him and his neighbours. He said he'd never seen the SUV before.

Homicide investigators have been notified but the death is currently being investigated by officers from 14 Division, who police the area.