IIO Deploys to Fatal Incident in Agassiz (2015-134)

UPDATE: The IIO released jurisdiction of this case on February 16, 2016 as the IIO investigation concluded there was no connection between the death of the affected person and the actions of police.

INFORMATION BULLETIN
Independent Investigations Office
For Immediate Release

SURREY – The Independent Investigations Office (IIO) has been deployed to a fatal incident in Agassiz involving an elderly male.

According to police, on September 23, 2015 at approximately 6:15 am officers responded to a complaint of a disruptive male. Police located the male at his residence, and after a brief struggle took him into custody. The male appeared to have self-inflicted injuries and as such, Emergency Health Services was called. Prior to being transferred for medical care, the male affected person died.

The IIO was notified at 9:34 am and investigators were deployed to the scene immediately.

Investigators will be conducting standard tasks including obtaining physical evidence from the scene; interviewing any civilian witnesses; designating and interviewing officers; and completing the next of kin notification.

The BC Coroners Service is responsible for releasing information about the deceased. The RCMP maintain jurisdiction over information related to the officers.

As per the MOU, the RCMP will defer all comments related to the investigation to the IIO; however, due to the preliminary stages of the investigation, information the IIO is able to release is limited.

Marten Youssef
Manager, Strategic Communications
Marten.Youssef@iiobc.ca