The province’s police watchdog has concluded that an incident in Abbotsford on Sept. 21 in which a man was injured during an arrest does not require further investigation.
The Independent Investigations Office (IIO) of BC reported on Sept. 25 that it was looking into the incident that occurred at a residential building on Riverside Road.
The IIO said officers were called after a man was reported to be threatening people and damaging property.
When police arrived, the man locked himself inside, and officers were unable to get him to leave the residence.
The IIO said officers later noticed smoke inside and used force to enter the building.
An interaction took place, and police used less-lethal force on the man, the IIO said at the time.
The man was detained under the Mental Health Act and was taken to hospital, where it was determined he had been injured during the incident.
The IIO investigates police-involved incidents resulting in serious harm or death.
In this case, the agency said it needed to determine whether the man’s injuries met the definition for “serious harm.”
A press release issued Tuesday (Oct. 8) stated that after reviewing evidence in the case – including medial records and “police information” – the agency determined that the man’s injuries did not meet the definition under the Police Act, and the IIO was no longer investigating.
In cases that do meet the definition, the IIO determines whether charges against the officer(s) involved should be recommended to BC Prosecution Service.
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