IIO Refers Burnaby Death for Further Review (2014-099)
Case: 2014-099 Incident Date: June 4, 2014 Location: Burnaby Detachment: Burnaby Agency: RCMP Incident Classification: Death Case Status: Closed - No charges approved by Crown Counsel News Release
Independent Investigations Office
For Immediate Posting
Surrey – The Independent Investigations Office of B.C. has referred a death involving Burnaby officers for further review by the RCMP and Civilian Review and Complaints Commission.
On June 4, 2014, the IIO deployed investigators to review a fatal incident in Burnaby. According to police, they responded to a complaint of a male causing a disturbance. Police reported that during the course of the arrest of the male, they deployed a Conducted Energy Weapon (CEW) and subsequently applied physical restraints. While the male was being restrained he became unresponsive and was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The IIO investigated the incident and the file was referred to Crown counsel as the Chief Civilian Director (CCD) concluded that an officer may have committed an offense. The IIO’s standard of referral is lower than Crown’s standard for charge approval.
Crown counsel has reviewed this file and determined there is no substantial likelihood of a conviction; as such no charges were approved.
The CCD has identified a number of tactical and conduct issues in this incident that merit further administrative review by the appropriate agencies. As such, he has forwarded the file to the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for the RCMP (CRCC) and to RCMP command.
Marten Youssef
Manager, Strategic Communications
Marten.Youssef@iiobc.ca