A man died on the way to hospital early Wednesday afternoon after being subdued and Tasered by police who were called in to break up a disturbance at a west-end pawn shop.

The incident unfolded around 11 a.m. at the business, located near 154 Street and Stony Plain Road.

According to witness accounts, a man entered the store, locked the door and began assaulting another man inside.

Friends identify the man as Trevor Grimolfson.

Patrick Saunders, who went to the pawn shop to meet Trevor on a demolition project they were working on together, said he noticed a large amount of drugs and drug paraphernalia on a table inside.

Shortly after meeting the man, Saunders said Grimolfson allegedly began chasing him down the sidewalk, sweating profusely and visibly enraged.

"He just literally jumped me with everything he had, started to put the boots to me, punching me, kicking me," Saunders said.

Sheila Boddy told CTV News police arrived shortly after the commotion started, and that it took several officers to subdue Grimolfson. Boddy said she heard several Tasers go off.

"This guy comes over in a rampage, smashed at the door with his fist, took a couple of swings at the owner, then he went inside and started smashing the place up," she said. "When the police arrived, they couldn't ever apprehend him and get him under control."

Police spokesman Jeff Wuite said the suspect ran at the officers when they arrived on scene, slightly injuring them.

"The EUD was used twice to bring the gentleman under control, both times it had no effect," he said. "The suspect ran at our officers. They wrestled him to the ground and were eventually able to put handcuffs but only after he resisted for several more minutes."

There are reports from the scene Grimolfson went into cardiac arrest shortly after police got him under control.

The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team is investigating.

Cliff Purvis, director of ASIRT, said it is too premature to say Grimolfson died from the Taser.

"It could be any number of things, totally separate from the deployment of the Taser," he said.