IIO is Investigating Injury Sustained by One Man in Courtenay (2024-080)
Case: 2024-080 Incident Date: April 7, 2024 Detachment: Comox Valley Location: Courtenay Agency: RCMP 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 the injury of one man while being taken into custody by members of the Comox Valley RCMP in Courtenay.
Information provided by the RCMP states that in the afternoon on April 7, 2024, police responded to a call regarding a man causing a disturbance at a residence in Courtenay.
It is reported that when police arrived at the residence, the man refused to be taken into custody and reportedly produced a weapon and refused to exit the residence.
The Emergency Response Team was called to assist and at about 10:45 p.m., the man was taken into custody. He sustained a serious but not life-threatening injury during the incident and was taken to a local hospital for treatment.
The IIO was notified of the incident shortly after it occurred and has commenced an investigation. Initial investigative steps will seek to determine what happened during the incident, and whether any police action or inaction was necessary, reasonable, and proportionate in the circumstances.
The IIO is asking any person who has relevant information about the incident to please 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.