IIO Seeking Witnesses of Fatal Burnaby Incident (2015-116)

Case: 2015-116 Incident Date: August 13, 2015 Agency: Municipal Location: Vancouver Detachment: Vancouver Police Department 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 is seeking further witnesses as it continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of a man in the afternoon of August 13, 2015 on the Burnaby-Vancouver border.

The incident took place on Thursday afternoon in Burnaby in the 8300 block of Joffre Avenue (near the intersection of Marine Drive and Joffre Avenue).

Officers were responding to a complaint of a male causing a disturbance. Officers subsequently located the male and attempted to take him into custody. A violent altercation ensued and the male died at the scene.

Recent information obtained by the IIO suggests the male may have attempted to verbally engage with occupants of passing vehicles.

As such, the IIO is asking witnesses of this incident or anyone who knows of potential witnesses who may have been driving in the area between 3 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. on Thursday August 13, 2015 to contact the IIO Toll-free Witness Line at 1-855-446-8477.

 

Background

  • The IIO is an independent civilian oversight agency of the police in British Columbia. It investigates all officer related incidents that result in serious harm or death.
  • In the initial stages of an investigation, the IIO must determine if there is a connection between the serious harm or death and the actions or inactions of police. If there is a connection then the IIO will continue to investigate.
  • If there is no connection between police action or inaction and the serious harm or death then the IIO will release jurisdiction.
  • When the IIO proceeds with an investigation, these investigations end in one of two ways:
    • If the Chief Civilian Director (CCD) of the IIO concludes that an officer may have committed any offence then the CCD will refer this case to Crown counsel for consideration of charges. The IIO does not lay charges.
    • If the CCD concludes that no officer may have committed any offence then a public report will be released on the IIO’s website at www.iiobc.ca. These public reports give an in-depth look at the case and explain the CCD’s rationale for not referring the case to Crown counsel.

Marten Youssef
Acting Director, Public Engagement & Policy
Marten.Youssef@iiobc.ca

 

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