IIO is Investigating an Incident in Whistler (2023-242)
Case: 2023-242 Incident Date: August 8, 2023 Agency: RCMP Detachment: Whistler Location: Whistler Incident Classification: Serious Harm 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 Whistler that resulted in one man suffering an injury.
Information provided by the Whistler RCMP states that at or around 9:05 p.m. on August 8, an officer conducted a traffic stop at Highway 99 and Lake Placid Road.
Police eventually placed the vehicle’s driver under arrest. There was reportedly an altercation at that point while officers were taking the man into custody.
After being transported to the Whistler RCMP detachment, the man requested medical assistance and was assessed by Emergency Health Services (EHS) before later being taken to a medical facility where subsequent tests revealed an injury.
The IIO was notified of the incident the following day. Initial investigative steps will seek to confirm the details of the arrest, whether the man’s injuries meet the necessary threshold to fall under the IIO’s mandate of investigating serious harm under the Police Act, and whether any force used during the interaction was reasonable, necessary and justified under the circumstances.
The IIO is asking any person with relevant information or video footage of the incident to please contact the 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.