IIO is Investigating an Incident in Victoria (2025-291)
Case: 2025-291 Incident Date: December 21, 2025 Agency: Municipal Location: Victoria Detachment: Victoria 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 an incident following the arrest of one man in Victoria on December 21, 2025.
Information provided by the Victoria Police Department states that at about 12:30 p.m., officers responded to a complaint about a man who was reportedly a suspect in a series of alleged assaults near Johnson and Wharf streets.
Police arrived, located the man and arrested him, placing him in the back of a police vehicle.
Upon arrival at cells, police noticed the man required medical assistance and called for paramedics. The man was taken by ambulance to a hospital for assessment and treatment.
The man’s injuries are not life-threatening.
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 asks 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.