A 26-year-old Igloolik, Nunavut, man died early Sunday morning while in police custody.

RCMP say they were called to a house at about 5 a.m. ET and arrested the man for assault. Officers then brought the man to the police station and put him in a cell.

Police said the man appeared to be highly intoxicated when they arrested him.

Shortly after he was put in the cells, police said they found him unresponsive. Police officers, a guard and a nurse tried unsuccessfully to resuscitate the man.

The RCMP is not releasing the man's name.

"This is a tragic situation and I want to express my sincere condolences to the family, friends and community of Igloolik," Supt. Hilton Smee said in a release.

The RCMP's Major Crimes Unit from Iqaluit is now in Igloolik. An independent investigative team from Ottawa will travel to the hamlet to investigate the death.