IIO Concludes Investigation into August 2022 Death in Surrey (2022-232)
Case: 2022-232 Incident Date: August 26, 2022 Agency: RCMP Detachment: Surrey Location: Surrey Incident Classification: Death Case Status: Closed - Without Public ReportINFORMATION BULLETIN
Independent Investigations Office
For Immediate Release
Surrey, B.C. – The Chief Civilian Director (CCD) of the Independent Investigations Office (IIO) of BC has concluded an investigation into the death of a woman in Surrey.
At about 9:50 p.m. on August 26, 2022, police responded to a report of an intoxicated woman at an apartment in a building in the 13000-block of Old Yale Road.
When police arrived, they spoke to the woman and another resident. Police were concerned for the woman’s health, so they called Emergency Health Services (EHS). Approximately one hour later, when Emergency Health Services had yet to arrive, a civilian witness confirms that police left the woman in their care with instruction to call EHS in the event the woman’s health deteriorated.
At about 12:20 a.m. on August 27, police were called again to attend a sudden death at the same building, which was confirmed to be the same woman police had visited earlier.
The CCD has reviewed the evidence – including statements from a civilian witness, police witnesses, medical information, and police records – and determined that there is no connection between police actions or inactions and the woman’s death. She was left in the care of someone able to call for assistance should her condition worsen, and there were no indications prior to their departure that her condition suggested a need for immediate medical attention.
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.