IIO is Investigating a Death in Prince Rupert (2025-289)

INFORMATION BULLETIN
Independent Investigations Office
For Immediate Release

Surrey, B.C. — The Independent Investigations Office of BC (IIO) is investigating the death of one man in Prince Rupert that occurred yesterday.

Information provided by the RCMP states that at about 2:25 p.m. yesterday (December 19, 2025), police responded to a call regarding an alleged assault at a home in the 500 block of Pillsbury Avenue.

When officers arrived, a physical interaction occurred while taking a man into custody. The man then went into medical distress.

Emergency Health Services attended and took the man to a hospital for treatment, but he was subsequently pronounced deceased.

The IIO was notified of the death shortly after it occurred and is investigating.

There are two factors that the IIO considers at the beginning of each investigation:

1. If there has been an injury that meets the threshold of serious harm, as defined by the Police Act, or a death; and
2. If there is a connection between the serious harm/death and officer or detention guard action or inaction.

If both conditions are met, the investigation will continue to examine all available evidence to determine what occurred. At the conclusion of the investigation, the chief civilian director will consider whether there are reasonable grounds to believe that an offence may have occurred.

The IIO asks that any witnesses that have not already provided a statement, or who have video footage of the incident, to please contact the IIO at our Witness Line toll-free at 1-855-446-8477 or via the contact form on the iiobc.ca website.

Background

The IIO is the independent civilian oversight agency of officers and detention guards in British Columbia. It investigates all incidents involving officers or detention guards that result in serious harm or death, whether or not there is any allegation of wrongdoing.

info@iiobc.ca