IIO Concludes Investigation into a Motor Vehicle Incident in Courtenay (2021-181)
Case: 2021-181 Incident Date: July 9, 2021 Detachment: Courtenay Location: Courtenay 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 concludes investigation into a motor vehicle incident in Courtenay.
As indicated in the previous release, on July 9, 2021 at approximately 12:40 p.m., an officer driving northbound on Headquarters Road north of Bridges Road observed a black sedan travelling at a high rate of speed southbound. The officer turned around, activated their emergency equipment, and attempted to conduct a traffic stop.
The sedan did not stop and was involved in a single vehicle collision a short time later. The male driver was ejected and transported to a hospital for treatment.
Statements from two independent witnesses and video footage from the police vehicle confirms that the police vehicle remained some distance from the sedan throughout the attempted stop.
The CCD has reviewed the evidence and determined that the injuries sustained by the man do not meet the threshold for serious harm as defined by the Police Act. The officer was acting appropriately in attempting to conduct a traffic stop. 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.