B.C. Mounties showed ‘concerning’ conduct in investigation into B.C. death: watchdog

SURREY — The Independent Investigations Office of British Columbia says it found “concerning and problematic conduct” from some RCMP officers who failed to co-operate during an investigation.

The provincial police watchdog made the comments in a report released Thursday into the death of a man in Dawson Creek, B.C., in June 2024 who had been punched in the face while resisting arrest.

The IIO’s chief civilian director Jessica Berglund said she did not find reasonable grounds to believe the officers committed an offence, and no charges will be recommended.

Berglund said the man died due to a combination of exertion during a prolonged altercation with police and “illicit substance toxicity,” with the blunt injury from police punches “not identified” as a significant factor.