IIO Concludes Investigation into a Motor Vehicle Incident in Campbell River (2024-029)
Case: 2024-029 Incident Date: February 11, 2024 Location: Campbell River Detachment: Campbell River Agency: RCMP Incident Classification: Serious Harm Case Status: Closed - Without Public ReportINFORMATION BULLETIN
Independent Investigations Office
For Immediate Release
Surrey, B.C. — The Independent Investigations Office (IIO) of BC has now completed its investigation into an injury that occurred during a motor vehicle incident in Campbell River (IIO 2024-029).
At about 1:05 a.m. on February 11, 2024, officers responded to a report of an armed man in the driveway of a residence in the 100 block of Reef Crescent.
When officers arrived, the man was inside the residence. Officers attempted to speak to the man using a loud hailer and by phone, but the man did not respond. Assistance from the Emergency Response Team was requested.
At about 1:50 a.m., the garage door of the residence opened, and police advised the man that he was under arrest. The man did not comply with police direction.
The man exited the garage and video from a police vehicle shows him drive away on a motor bike with a blanket dragging from the bike. He drove away from the residence heading south towards Erickson Road where a spike belt was set out by police, but the man continued and turned east onto Erickson Road.
A short time later, the man was found on the ground next to his motor bike. Medical assistance was provided, and Emergency Health Services attended to transport the man to a hospital for treatment of a serious but not life-threatening injury.
Subsequent examination of the motor bike determined that the police spike belt did not affect the functioning of the motor bike, but the blanket the man departed with had become wrapped around the bike’s rear wheel.
The Chief Civilian Director has reviewed the evidence – including a statement from the injured man, video footage, scene examination, and police information – and determined that there are no reasonable grounds to believe any officer may have committed an offence. The man’s injury was the result of crashing his bike, and police actions did not contribute to the crash.
The IIO investigation is now concluded.
Background
The IIO is the Independent civilian oversight agency of the police in British Columbia. It investigates all officer-related incidents that result in serious harm or death, whether or not there is any allegation of wrongdoing.