IIO Concludes Investigation into Police-Involved Incident in Vancouver (2023-066)
Case: 2023-066 Incident Date: March 9, 2023 Agency: Municipal Location: Vancouver Detachment: Vancouver Police Department Incident Classification: Death Case Status: Closed - Without Public ReportINFORMATION BULLETIN
Independent Investigations Office
For Immediate Release
Surrey, B.C. – The Independent Investigations Office (IIO) of BC has concluded an investigation into an incident in Vancouver which has left one man with life-threatening injuries.
At approximately 1:30 pm yesterday, March 9, 2023, the IIO was notified of an incident at 403 East Hastings Street. Vancouver Police, in the building to make an arrest, had called from the hallway for a man to come out from a room. The man instead climbed out of the room’s third-floor window and fell to the street below. He sustained serious injuries and was transported to hospital, where he remains in critical condition.
The IIO investigated to determine what role, if any, police actions or inactions played in the man’s fall. Evidence, including CCTV footage, showed that while officers were in the hallway, the man took it upon himself to climb out of the window of the room in order to evade arrest, and that officers were not responsible for the man’s actions or for the injuries that resulted from the fall.
Accordingly, the matter will not be referred to Crown Counsel for consideration of charges, and the IIO’s investigation is 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.