IIO is Investigating an Incident in Nelson (2025-271)
Case: 2025-271 Incident Date: November 27, 2025 Agency: Municipal Location: Nelson Detachment: Nelson 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 a recent incident in Nelson where one man suffered a medical event.
Information provided by the Nelson Police Department (NPD) states that at about 12:30 a.m. on November 27, 2025, a man was arrested on outstanding warrants and lodged in NPD cells.
Later that morning at about 7:00 a.m., the man requested medical assistance, and Emergency Health Services were called. The man was taken to a hospital for treatment.
The IIO was notified of the incident shortly after it occurred and is investigating.
There are two factors that the IIO considers at the beginning of each investigation:
- If there has been an injury that meets the threshold of serious harm, as defined by the Police Act, or a death; and
- 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 is asking 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.