IIO is Investigating a July 2023 Incident in Vancouver (2023-273)
Case: 2023-273 Incident Date: July 10, 2023 Agency: Municipal Location: Vancouver Detachment: Vancouver Police Department Incident Classification: Serious Harm Case Status: Open - Investigation in ProgressINFORMATION BULLETIN
Independent Investigations Office
For Immediate Release
Surrey, B.C. — The Independent Investigations Office of BC (IIO) is investigating an incident in Vancouver where one man may have sustained serious injuries.
Information provided by the Vancouver Police Department (VPD) states that in the early morning hours on July 10, 2023, police attended a McDonald’s restaurant in the 800-block of Granville Street in response to reports of a man behaving erratically.
When officers arrived, they placed the man under arrest. While being taken into custody, the man sustained injuries. Another person who works at the restaurant also sustained minor injuries.
The IIO was notified of the incident on September 7, 2023 when the VPD became aware that the man sustained injuries that may meet the IIO’s threshold of serious harm, as defined by the Police Act. The IIO has commenced an investigation, and initial investigative steps will seek to confirm the injuries the man sustained, and whether police actions during the incident were reasonable, proportionate, and necessary in the circumstances.
The IIO is asking any person with relevant information of the incident to please contact the 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 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.