IIO Files Report to Crown Counsel for Consideration of Charges Regarding April 2020 Incident near Sicamous (2020-068)
Case: 2020-068 Incident Date: April 14, 2020 Agency: RCMP Detachment: Salmon Arm Detachment: Sicamous Location: Sicamous Incident Classification: Serious Harm Case Status: Closed - No charges approved by Crown CounselINFORMATION BULLETIN
Independent Investigations Office
For Immediate Release
Surrey, B.C. – The Independent Investigations Office (IIO) of BC has filed a report to the BC Prosecution Service for consideration of charges regarding IIO file 2020-068.
As described in the previous media release, on April 14, 2020 at approximately 12:00 p.m., RCMP officers responded to a report regarding a suspicious person located on a forest service road off Highway 97A near Sicamous. Police believed the described vehicle belonged to a man with several outstanding warrants, based on the details provided by the caller. When officers located the man, he departed in his vehicle before being successfully stopped a short time later. The man exited his vehicle and an interaction occurred which resulted in the man sustaining serious but not life-threatening injuries.
The man was subsequently transported to a local hospital for treatment.
Upon completion of the investigation, Chief Civilian Director Ronald J. MacDonald, QC, reviewed the evidence and determined that reasonable grounds exist to believe that the arresting officers may have committed offences in relation to the use of force. As a result, and pursuant to Section 38.11 of the Police Act, the IIO has forwarded a report to the BC Prosecution Service for consideration of charges.
In order to approve any charges, the BC Prosecution Service must be satisfied that there is a substantial likelihood of conviction based on the evidence gathered by the IIO, and that prosecution be required in the public interest.
While the matter is with Crown, the IIO will not be making any additional comment about the facts of this case.
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.