IIO Refers Report to Crown Counsel for Consideration of Charges Regarding a 2023 Police-Involved Shooting in Revelstoke (2023-262)
Case: 2023-262 Incident Date: August 27, 2023 Agency: RCMP Location: Revelstoke Detachment: Revelstoke Incident Classification: Death Case Status: Referral to Crown Counsel (RTCC)INFORMATION BULLETIN
Independent Investigations Office
For Immediate Release
Surrey, B.C. – The Independent Investigations Office (IIO) of BC has referred a matter to the BC Prosecution Service for consideration of charges (IIO 2023-262).
At around 11:48 p.m. on August 27, 2023, members of the RCMP in Revelstoke responded to a call about a stolen vehicle.
An officer located a man driving the stolen vehicle on Victoria Road East. There was an interaction, and shots were fired by police. Emergency Health Services (EHS) attended but the man who had been driving the stolen vehicle was later pronounced deceased.
The IIO was notified shortly after the incident and commenced an investigation to determine what occurred leading up to and during the interaction with the officers, and what role police actions or inaction may have played in the person’s death.
Upon completion of the investigation, Chief Civilian Director Jessica Berglund reviewed the evidence and determined that reasonable grounds exist to believe that one officer may have committed offences in relation to the use of force. As a result, and pursuant to Section 38.11 of the Police Act, the IIO has forwarded a report to the BC Prosecution Service for consideration of charges.
In order to approve any charges, the BC Prosecution Service must be satisfied that there is a substantial likelihood of conviction based on the evidence gathered by the IIO, and that prosecution be required in the public interest.
While the matter is with Crown, the IIO will not be making any additional comment about the facts of this case.
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.