IIO is Seeking Witnesses to an August 2022 Arrest in Kelowna (2024-200)
Case: 2024-200 Incident Date: August 14, 2022 Location: Kelowna Detachment: Kelowna 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 (IIO) of BC is seeking witnesses to the arrest of one man in Kelowna in August of 2022.
On August 14, 2022, officers with the Kelowna RCMP responded to a call about the driver of a red Ford F150 pickup truck slurring his words and blocking traffic in an alley.
The Ford drove away as officers approached and before they could speak to the man driving.
Shortly before 10 p.m. that evening, police again located the Ford during regular patrols near a fruit stand in the 3000 block of Benvoulin Road. They attempted to arrest the driver who tried to drive away again, injuring one police officer.
After the man was taken into custody, he informed officers he was paralyzed. He was taken to the hospital with what were believed to be minor injuries.
Two years later, in August of 2024, the RCMP was notified that the man’s injuries during the arrest may meet the definition of serious harm as defined in Part 11 of the Police Act. The IIO was notified a short time later and commenced an investigation.
Investigators would like to speak to anyone who witnessed the man’s arrest the night of August 14, 2022 on Benvoulin Road or saw any interaction between officers and the red Ford F150 pickup truck.
Initial investigative steps will seek to confirm the details of the police account as well as whether the man’s injuries do meet the serious harm threshold and, whether any force used was necessary, proportionate, and reasonable under the circumstances.
The IIO is asking any person with video footage or relevant information about 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.