IIO Files Report with Crown Counsel for Consideration of Charges Regarding July 2022 Incident near Penticton (2022-168)
Case: 2022-168 Incident Date: July 10, 2022 Detachment: BC Highway Patrol Location: Penticton Agency: RCMP Incident Classification: Serious Harm Case Status: Closed - Court DecisionINFORMATION BULLETIN
Independent Investigations Office
For Immediate Release
Surrey, B.C. – The Independent Investigations Office (IIO) of BC has filed a report with the BC Prosecution Service for consideration of charges regarding IIO file 2022-168.
At about 7:00 p.m. on July 10, 2022, an officer with the BC Highway Patrol was responding to an unrelated incident when they were involved in a collision with a civilian pickup truck at the intersection of Maple Street and 10th Avenue in the Okanagan Falls area.
The driver and passenger of the pickup were injured in the collision and transported to a hospital for treatment.
Upon completion of the investigation, Chief Civilian Director Ronald J. MacDonald, KC, reviewed the evidence and determined that reasonable grounds exist to believe that one officer may have committed a driving offence. 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.