IIO to Investigate Officer Involved Shooting near Salmon Arm (2015-096)
Case: 2015-096 Incident Date: July 3, 2015 Agency: RCMP Location: Salmon Arm Detachment: Salmon Arm Incident Classification: Serious Harm Case Status: Closed - No charges approved by Crown Counsel INFORMATION BULLETIN
Independent Investigations Office
For Immediate Release
SURREY – The Independent Investigations Office of BC confirms it is sending investigators to the Sicamous and Salmon Arm area after being notified of an incident involving the RCMP.
According to the RCMP and the information reported to the IIO, at approximately 5 p.m. this afternoon, officers were responding to a complaint of an armed robbery at a gas station involving an adult male (the affected person) near Sicamous. The affected person reportedly fled the scene in a vehicle.
A short time later, the vehicle was located in Canoe, just outside of Salmon Arm. Officers set up a perimeter and deployed a police service dog and handler to establish a track.
During the search, an officer (s) came into contact with the affected person. The affected person was shot and sustained serious gunshot injuries. An officer was also injured during the confrontation. Both were transported to hospital for medical treatment.
The IIO Team Director, a Forensic Specialist and several other investigative staff will arrive in the area tomorrow, Saturday, July 4. The RCMP have secured the scene and will hold it until IIO personnel arrive. Preliminary tasks will include identifying and interviewing witnesses as well as clarifying what officers were involved. The IIO Forensic Specialist will work with the RCMP to ensure all physical evidence is collected from the scene.
The RCMP will remain responsible for any concurrent investigation into the actions of the affected person and any other persons involved prior to the incident.
As per the MOU, the RCMP will defer all comments related to the investigation to the IIO; however, due to the preliminary stages of the investigation, information the IIO is able to release is limited. At this time, there will be no further comment on the medical condition of the affected person.
The IIO will not be commenting on the age, gender, years of service or medical condition of the police officer and will defer questions related to the officer to the RCMP.
Please note there will be limited media availability. Any updates will be posted to the IIO website.
Independent Investigations Office
Kellie.Kilpatrick@iiobc.ca