IIO Deploys to Motor Vehicle Incident in Burnaby (2017-137)
Case: 2017-137 Incident Date: October 31, 2017 Location: Burnaby Detachment: Burnaby Agency: RCMP 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 motor vehicle incident in Burnaby.
The RCMP notified the IIO that on October 31, 2017, at approximately 11:10 p.m., a Burnaby officer spotted a suspicious white van near Patterson Avenue. The vehicle subsequently drove off.
The van was reported by several RCMP members to be driving erratically in the Metrotown area. Shortly thereafter, the van collided with a marked police vehicle at the intersection of Dorset Street and Macpherson Avenue.
According to the RCMP, none of the officers in the police vehicle were seriously injured in the collision. The male suspect received medical attention at the scene and was taken to the hospital with what is believed to be serious, but not life-threatening injuries.
RCMP Collision Reconstruction Specialists attended the scene along with IIO investigators, and will be conducting standard tasks including obtaining physical evidence from the scene, interviewing any civilian witnesses and interviewing officers.
The Burnaby RCMP has begun a concurrent investigation into the circumstances leading up to the crash.
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