IIO Files Report to Crown Counsel for Considerations of Charges (2020-002)
Case: 2020-002 Incident Date: January 7, 2020 Agency: RCMP Location: Surrey Detachment: Surrey 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 2020-002.
As described in our initial release, on January 7, 2020 at approximately 9:30 p.m., an officer attempted a traffic stop near the intersection of 156 Street and 104 Avenue in Surrey, B.C. The male driver of the vehicle failed to stop and accelerated away on 104 Avenue towards Highway 1. The officer pursued and upon reaching the 104 Avenue on-ramp to Highway 1, the fleeing vehicle left the roadway and flipped several times. The male driver sustained serious injuries during the collision.
Upon completion of the investigation, Chief Civilian Director Ronald J. MacDonald, QC has reviewed the evidence and determined that reasonable grounds exist to believe that an officer may have committed offences in relation to the pursuit of the fleeing vehicle. 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 potential charges.
In order to approve the 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 is required in the public interest.
While the matter is with the 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.