IIO is Investigating an Incident in Prince Rupert (2020-258)
Case: 2020-258 Incident Date: October 19, 2020 Detachment: Prince Rupert Location: Prince Rupert 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 Prince Rupert.
On October 19, 2020, the RCMP notified the IIO that the previous day, October 18, at approximately 10:30 p.m., officers had attended a single vehicle collision involving a man driving a white pick-up truck at the intersection of Summit and Omineca avenues. The officers conducted an investigation into the collision and transported the man to the Prince Rupert detachment. The man left the detachment at 12:25 a.m. the following morning, October 19.
Later that morning at approximately 9:20 a.m., the man was found deceased in his home.
The IIO will investigate to determine what role, if any, police actions or inaction 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 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.