IIO Investigating Incident in Upper Fraser Valley (2019-130)
Case: 2019-130 Incident Date: July 23, 2019 Detachment: Hope Agency: RCMP Location: Yale Incident Classification: Death Case Status: Closed - With Public ReportINFORMATION BULLETIN
Independent Investigations Office
For Immediate Release
Surrey – The Independent Investigations Office of B.C. deployed investigators to Hope on July 26, 2019 (IIO 2019-130).
The Independent Investigations Office (IIO) was notified by Hope RCMP on July 25, 2019 that there was an attempt to arrest an individual in relation to a suspected stolen vehicle that had several persons inside.
Four people fled the vehicle on foot. Three were taken into custody and one individual fled on foot.
The individual who fled was seen swimming in the Fraser River. The RCMP subsequently lost sight of the male. Search and rescue attempts failed to locate the male.
On July 26, 2019, Hope RCMP notified the IIO that a body believed to be the male had been recovered from the Fraser River in the Mission area.
IIO investigators are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the initial incident.
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.