IIO Files Report with Crown Counsel for Consideration of Charges Regarding May 2024 Motor Vehicle Incident in Central Saanich (2024-117)
Case: 2024-117 Incident Date: May 21, 2024 Location: Central Saanich Detachment: Central Saanich Police Department Agency: Municipal Incident Classification: Serious Harm Case Status: Referral to Crown Counsel (RTCC)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 2024-117.
Around 8 p.m. on May 21, 2024, a man was riding a bicycle along the 7100-block of Wallace Drive in Central Saanich.
A short while later, the man on the bicycle and a marked police vehicle being driven in the same direction by a member of the Central Saanich Police Service were involved in a collision.
The officer stopped and notified emergency health services.
The IIO was notified of the incident the same day and commenced an investigation.
It was later determined the injuries the man sustained do not meet the required threshold for serious harm, as defined by the Police Act. However, given the circumstances of the incident, the Director of Police Services ordered an IIO investigation pursuant to s.44 of the Police Act.
Upon completion of the investigation, Chief Civilian Director Jessica Berglund reviewed the evidence and determined that reasonable grounds exist to believe that the officer may have committed an offence in relation to the use of their vehicle under the Motor Vehicle Act. 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.