IIO is Investigating an Incident in Lake Country (2020-117)
Case: 2020-117 Incident Date: June 3, 2020 Detachment: Lake Country Location: Lake Country Agency: RCMP Incident Classification: Serious Harm 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 Lake Country.
Information provided by the RCMP indicates that on June 3, 2020 at approximately 1:00 a.m., officers responded to a call for a welfare check of an individual and located the man within his residence.
Officers reported that, during their interaction with the man, he harmed himself with a weapon, sustaining serious injuries. Officers began first aid and managed to move the man to a safe location for emergency medical assistance.
Emergency Health Services, who had been waiting nearby, quickly took over before transporting the man to hospital where the injuries were confirmed to be serious.
The IIO will investigate to determine what role, if any, the officers’ actions or inaction may have played in the serious harm of the man.
The IIO is asking that any person who saw, heard or recorded the incident to contact the IIO Witness Line toll free at 1-855-446-8477.
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.
If you are in need of help here are some available mental health resources:
- If you are in crisis, call 310-6789 to be connected to the crisis center nearest you (area code not needed)
- Crisis Services Canada
- British Columbia: crisislines.bc.ca
- Vancouver and surrounding areas: crisiscentre.bc.ca
- Vancouver Island: vicrisis.ca
- VictimLinkBC – Call 1-800-563-0808