IIO is Seeking Witnesses Regarding a Death in Port Alberni (2023-357)
Case: 2023-357 Incident Date: December 15, 2023 Detachment: Port Alberni Location: Port Alberni Agency: RCMP Incident Classification: Death Case Status: Open - Investigation in ProgressINFORMATION BULLETIN
Independent Investigations Office
For Immediate Release
Surrey, B.C. — The Independent Investigations Office of BC (IIO) is seeking witnesses regarding the death of one man in Port Alberni.
Information provided by the RCMP states that at about 6:45 p.m. on December 13, 2023, police responded to a report concerned for the well-being of an elderly man driving a green Pontiac Sunfire.
An officer reportedly located and spoke to the man around 8:40 p.m.
At about 10:25 p.m., another call was received as the man had not returned home. It is reported that police again searched for the man.
On December 15, 2023, the man was sadly located deceased in his vehicle, which was submerged in water in Sproat Lake near the 10700-block of Lakeshore Road.
The IIO was notified shortly after the incident occurred and initial investigative steps will determine the details of the interaction between the man and officer, and where the man went after speaking to the officer.
The IIO is asking any person who observed the green Pontiac Sunfire between 8:45 p.m. on December 13 and 12:00 p.m. on December 15, 2023 to please contact the IIO via the Witness Line toll-free at 1-855-446-8477 or using 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.