IIO Deploys to Fatal Incident in Abbotsford (2017-139)
Case: 2017-139 Incident Date: November 6, 2017 Location: Abbotsford Detachment: Abbotsford Police Department Agency: Municipal Incident Classification: Serious Harm Case Status: Closed - With Public Report INFORMATION BULLETIN
Independent Investigations Office
For Immediate Release
Surrey – The Independent Investigation Office of B.C. has deployed investigators to a fatal incident involving the Abbotsford Police Department.
According to police, at approximately 11:35 a.m. on November 6, 2017, officers responded to a report about a possible stolen vehicle in a shopping complex located in the 3200 block of Mount Lehman Road.
Police attended the scene and an APD officer was shot and subsequently taken to the hospital with critical injuries.*
The suspect then fled the area and was apprehended shortly thereafter by police in the intersection of Mount Lehman Road and Old Yale Road. The male suffered non-life-threatening injuries at this location and was transported to the hospital for treatment. It is believed he was shot.
The APD officer who was taken to the hospital from the first scene unfortunately did not survive his injuries.
IIO Investigators will be conducting standard tasks including obtaining physical evidence from the scene, reviewing available CCTV footage, interviewing civilian witnesses and interviewing officers.
The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team is responsible for any concurrent investigation connected to this incident.
Any potential witnesses are asked to call the IIO at 1-855-446-8477.
Background:
• The IIO is an independent civilian oversight agency of the police in British Columbia. It investigates all officer-related incidents that result in serious harm or death. It does not require any allegation of wrongdoing.
• In the initial stages of an investigation, the IIO must determine if there is a connection between the serious harm or death and the actions or inactions of police. If there is a connection then the IIO will continue to investigate.
• If there is no connection between police action or inaction and the serious harm or death then the IIO will release jurisdiction.
• When the IIO proceeds with an investigation, these investigations end in one of two ways: If the Chief Civilian Director (CCD) of the IIO concludes that an officer may have committed any offence then the CCD will refer this case to Crown counsel for consideration of charges. The IIO does not lay charges.
• If the CCD concludes that no officer may have committed any offence then a public report will be released on the IIO’s website at www.iiobc.ca. These public reports give an in-depth look at the case and explain the CCD’s rationale for not referring the case to Crown counsel.
To arrange an interview with the IIO’s Chief Civilian Director Ron MacDonald, please contact the IIO at 1-778-988-1041 or info@iiobc.ca
*An earlier draft of this statement contained inaccurate information provided to the IIO. This sentence has been corrected to reflect this change.