IIO is Investigating an Incident in West Kelowna (2020-174)
Case: 2020-174 Incident Date: July 20, 2020 Agency: RCMP Detachment: West Kelowna Location: West Kelowna 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 West Kelowna.
Information provided by the RCMP indicates that on July 16, 2020 at approximately 9:00 a.m., officers attended a man’s residence with regards to an ongoing investigation. The man left his home the following day and police were contacted as family members were concerned for his welfare. A police search was undertaken over several days.
The man was subsequently found deceased on July 20, 2020.
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 how, where, when and by what means he came to his death.
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.