IIO is Investigating an Incident in Lytton (2020-225)
Case: 2020-225 Incident Date: August 12, 2020 Location: Lytton Detachment: Lytton Agency: RCMP Incident Classification: Death Case Status: Closed - With Public ReportINFORMATION BULLETIN
Independent Investigations Office
For Immediate Release
Surrey, B.C. – The Independent Investigations Office (IIO) of BC is investigating an incident in Lytton.
Information provided by the RCMP indicates that on August 12, 2020 at approximately 10:30 p.m., an officer conducted a traffic stop of a red 1994 Ford Ranger on the Trans-Canada Highway about one kilometre south of Lytton and attempted to administer an impaired driving test on the male driver. The man reportedly fled on foot across the highway. The man was 175 centimetres tall (5 feet, 9 inches), weighed approximately 63.5 kilograms (140 pounds) and was wearing a black long-sleeved shirt, black shorts and sandals.
On August 18, 2020, a body was recovered in the Fraser River near Hope. On September 3, 2020, the deceased was identified as the same man who fled the traffic stop on August 12.
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 the circumstances of his death.
The IIO is asking any person who saw, heard or recorded the incident on August 12, or saw a man meeting the provided description between August 12 and August 18, 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.