IIO is Seeking Witnesses to an Arrest in Nanaimo (2026-227)

Case: 2026-227 Incident Date: September 12, 2026 Location: Nanaimo Detachment: Nanaimo Agency: RCMP Incident Classification: Serious Harm Case Status: Open - Investigation in Progress

INFORMATION BULLETIN
Independent Investigations Office
For Immediate Release

Surrey, B.C. — The Independent Investigations Office of BC (IIO) is seeking witnesses to the arrest of a man that happened in Nanaimo on September 12, 2026.

Initial information provided by the RCMP states that around 10:45 p.m., police received a call about a man refusing to leave a bar on Bastion Street near the intersection with Commercial Street.

Upon arrival, officers located the man and then attempted to arrest him on the sidewalk outside the bar.

During the interaction with police, the man suffered an injury related to a broken glass window. He was then taken to a hospital for assessment and treatment and later released.

The IIO was notified of the incident shortly afterwards and has commenced an investigation.

Investigators are asking anyone who witnessed the man’s arrest or who may have video footage, to please contact the IIO.

There are two factors that the IIO considers at the beginning of each investigation:

  1. If there has been an injury that meets the threshold of serious harm, as defined by the Police Act, or a death; and
  2. If there is a connection between the serious harm/death and officer action or inaction.

If both conditions are met, the investigation will continue to examine all available evidence to determine what occurred. At the conclusion of the investigation, the chief civilian director will consider whether there are reasonable grounds to believe that an offence may have occurred.

The IIO asks that any witnesses who have information regarding this matter 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 officers and detention guards in British Columbia. It investigates all incidents involving officers or detention guards that result in serious harm or death, whether or not there is any allegation of wrongdoing.
info@iiobc.ca

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