Calgary police investigating suspicious death of toddler

Calgary police are investigating what they are calling the suspicious death of a toddler in the community of Midnapore early Thursday.

Police said that at approximately 2:15 a.m., they were called to a residential complex on Bannister Manor S.E. for reports of a toddler in distress.

The two-year-old girl was taken to hospital by EMS. However, life-saving attempts were unsuccessful and she was declared deceased.

"Based on initial information, this death is being treated as suspicious," police said in a release.

"As it is still early in the investigation, detectives are interviewing a number of individuals to determine the events leading up to the child's death."

An autopsy will be conducted on Friday by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

Police said no further information is available at this time due to the nature of the death.

One neighbour, who lives across the street, said she woke up after 2 a.m. to the sound of a woman screaming.

"She was screaming that her daughter wasn't breathing and panicking," Sarah Scheer said. "I heard the unfortunate news this morning that she passed away and didn't make it."

Scheer described the local community as close, a place where a lot of the mothers and children are friends.

"It's really sad," Scheer added. "Obviously, everybody's pretty shook up about it."

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the police non-emergency number at 403-266-1234. Tips can also be left anonymously through Crime Stoppers.