IIO is Investigating the Circumstances Surrounding a Death in Enderby (2021-214)
Case: 2021-214 Incident Date: August 5, 2021 Location: Enderby Detachment: North Okanagan 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 the circumstances surrounding a death in Enderby.
Information provided by the RCMP indicates that on August 5, 2021 just after midnight, police received a report that a man had allegedly assaulted two women with a weapon at a local campground, and the man had sustained an injury that appears to have been self-inflicted.
It is reported that when officers located the man at approximately 2:00 a.m., police, including members of the Southeast District Emergency Response Team, cautiously approached with use of tear gas and a 40mm less-lethal round and observed the man to be in medical distress.
Officers provided first aid at approximately 3:00 a.m. until Emergency Health Services arrived. The man was pronounced dead at the scene.
The IIO has commenced an investigation to determine what role, if any, police actions or inactions may have played in the death.
The IIO is asking any person with relevant information 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.