IIO to File Report to Crown Counsel for Consideration of Charges (2020-046)
Case: 2020-046 Incident Date: March 3, 2020 Agency: Municipal Location: Vancouver Detachment: Vancouver Police Department Incident Classification: Serious Harm Case Status: Closed - Crown Counsel stay of proceedingsINFORMATION BULLETIN
Independent Investigations Office
For Immediate Release
Surrey, B.C. – The Independent Investigations Office (IIO) of BC will file a report to the BC Prosecution Service for consideration of charges regarding IIO file 2020-046.
As described in the previous media release, on March 3, 2020 shortly after 2:00 a.m., Vancouver Police Officers observed a vehicle they believed to be suspicious in the area of 39th Avenue and Cambie Street and attempted a traffic stop. The man did not stop, and multiple VPD vehicles attempted to locate the driver over several blocks. In total, there were five collisions of varying severity between the man’s car and different police vehicles. After the last collision which occurred on Main Street near Est 51st Avenue, the man’s vehicle was inoperable, and he was taken into custody.
The man was subsequently transported to a local hospital where he was found to be suffering serious but not life-threatening injuries.
Upon completion of the investigation, Chief Civilian Director Ronald J. MacDonald, QC, reviewed the evidence and determined that reasonable grounds exist to believe that an officer may have committed offences in relation to the operation of a police vehicle. As a result, and pursuant to Section 38.11 of the Police Act, the IIO will forward 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.