IIO is Investigating the Circumstances Surrounding an In-Custody Death in Coquitlam (2022-007)
Case: 2022-007 Incident Date: January 18, 2022 Location: Coquitlam Detachment: Coquitlam 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 an incident in Coquitlam.
Information provided by the RCMP indicates that in the morning on January 17, 2022, police responded to a reported disturbance at a residential building in the 600-block of Thompson Avenue. One man was arrested reportedly without incident.
The following day, January 18, at about 8:30 a.m., the man was found unresponsive in his cell. Medical assistance was provided, and Emergency Health Services attended, but the man was pronounced dead.
The IIO has commenced an investigation to determine what role, if any, police actions may have played.
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.