IIO is Investigating an Incident in Kelowna (2020-177)
Case: 2020-177 Incident Date: July 25, 2020 Location: Kelowna Detachment: Kelowna Agency: RCMP Incident Classification: Death Case Status: Closed - Without Public ReportINFORMATION BULLETIN
Independent Investigations Office
For Immediate Release
Surrey, B.C. – The Independent Investigations Office (IIO) of BC is investigating an incident in Kelowna.
Information provided by the RCMP indicates that on July 25, 2020 at approximately 1:40 a.m., officers attended a motor vehicle incident at the intersection of Richter Street and Clement Avenue. Both vehicles were towed away and one man, the affected person in this case, departed on foot. The man is described as approximately 175 cm (5 feet, 9 inches) tall, of average build, and was wearing long black pants, a black tank top, a three-quarter length black leather jacket and light blue running shoes.
Later that morning at approximately 7:35 a.m., the man was found deceased.
The IIO will investigate to determine what role, if any, the officers’ actions or inaction may have played in the death of the man. The BC Coroners Service is also conducting an independent investigation to determine how, where, when and by what means he came to his death.
The IIO is asking that any person who saw, heard, or has video of the motor vehicle incident, or saw the man walking after the incident between 1:40 a.m. an 7:35 a.m., to contact the IIO 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.