IIO Update April 1, 2016
INFORMATION BULLETIN
Independent Investigations Office
For Immediate Release
This update includes new cases (since last update March 4) under investigation where serious harm and a connection to the actions of police is being investigated and updates to those cases where jurisdiction has been released. The Chief Civilian Director (CCD) will release jurisdiction if the preliminary steps of an investigation does not establish serious harm and a connection to police.
New Investigations
These are new cases where the IIO was notified and an investigation is underway. The preliminary step of every investigation is to establish if there is serious harm or a connection between the injuries and the actions or inactions of the police.
IIO 2016-039 Vancouver Police Department (serious harm)
On March 1, 2016 at 11 a.m., VPD responded to a complaint of a disturbance. According to police, the subject of the complaint was located and an altercation took place which led to an arrest. During the altercation the male affected person suffered injuries.
IIO 2016-042 Prince George RCMP (death)
On March 5, 2016 at 12.10 p.m. Prince George RCMP responded to a complaint of a disturbance. According to police, they located the subject of the complaint and were made aware that a female may have suffered injuries. The female was subsequently found in medical distress in the same area, was transported to hospital and did not survive.
IIO 2016-048 Surrey RCMP (death)
On March 16, 2016 at 1:59 p.m., Surrey RCMP received a call stating that the subject of a prior interaction with police had been found deceased. The initial focus of the IIO investigation is to determine if there is a connection between the death of the affected person and actions or inactions of officers.
IIO 2016-049 Vancouver Police Department (serious harm)
On March 16, 2016 at approximately 9 p.m., VPD responded to a report of a driver of a vehicle exhibiting suspicious activity. According to police, the subject of the report refused to stop the vehicle he was operating. During the course of the arrest the male affected person suffered injuries and was transported to hospital.
IIO 2016-050 Transit Police (serious harm)
On March 18, 2016 at 1:25 a.m., police report that a BC Transit Police vehicle was involved in an accident with a person riding a motorcycle. The motorcyclist was taken to hospital with injuries.
IIO 2016-051 Prince George RCMP
On February 19, 2016 at 6:30 a.m., police report that they attempted to stop a stolen truck. According to police, the occupants of the truck attempted to evade them and were arrested. At the request of the RCMP and authorized by the Director of Police Services, the IIO has commenced an investigation into this incident. Pursuant to section 44 of the Police Act, the Director of Police Services has the authority to direct the IIO to conduct investigations of police outside of its normal mandate of serious harm.
IIO 2016-054 Kelowna RCMP (serious harm)
On March 18, 2016 at 7:05 p.m., Kelowna RCMP responded to a call of a disturbance. Police report that they arrived at the scene and located the subject of the call. The subject of the call was arrested and suffered injuries during the arrest.
IIO 2016-055 Coquitlam RCMP (serious harm)
On March 21, 2016 at 6:40 a.m., an off duty member of Coquitlam RCMP was driving to the detachment. According to police, the off duty member struck a pedestrian with his vehicle causing injuries. The pedestrian was taken to hospital for treatment.
IIO 2016-058 White Rock RCMP (death)
According to RCMP, a woman was arrested on March 25, 2016 and subsequently remanded in custody. At 10:38 a.m. on March 29, 2016 she was found unresponsive. Efforts to revive her were unsuccessful. The initial focus of the IIO investigation is to determine if there is a connection between the death of the female and actions or inactions of officers.
Jurisdiction Released
These are cases where the Chief Civilian Director has released jurisdiction in the absence of serious harm or a connection between the serious harm and the actions or inactions of police.
IIO 2016-056 – Surrey RCMP (no serious harm)
IIO 2016-053 – Transit Police (no serious harm)
IIO 2016-047 – Surrey RCMP (no serious harm)
IIO 2016-046 – Penticton RCMP (no connection)
IIO 2016-045 – Kelowna RCMP (no serious harm)
IIO 2016-043 – Vernon RCMP (no connection)
IIO 2016-041 – Sechelt/Sunshine Coast RCMP (no serious harm)
IIO 2016-038 – Vancouver Police Department (no serious harm)
IIO 2016-037 – Vancouver Police Department (no connection)
IIO 2016-034 – Surrey RCMP (no serious harm)
IIO 2016-029 – Vancouver Police Department (no serious harm)
Clear Statements by the Criminal Justice Branch
In each case the CJB has concluded that the available evidence does not meet the required threshold to approve charges. A Clear Statement explaining these decisions in greater detail is attached.
IIO 14-099 Burnaby RCMP (death)
IIO 14-179 Surrey RCMP (serious harm)
IIO 15-031 Sidney / North Saanich RCMP (serious harm)
Aidan Buckley
Communications & Stakeholder Relations Liaison
aidan.buckley@iiobc.ca