Image Credit: IIO

By James Peters

IIO

Police watchdog clears RCMP after man’s self-inflicted death outside Merritt detachment

Dec 11, 2020 | 4:05 PM

MERRITT, B.C. — B.C.’s police watchdog says Merritt RCMP officers played no role in the death of a man outside the detachment last Saturday (Dec. 5).

The Independent Investigations Office (IIO) was forwarded the file related to the man’s death and reviewed evidence including video, civilian witness statements and scene analysis.

In its brief report, the IIO says at about 4:40 p.m. on Saturday, officers inside the detachment heard the sound of a gun shot from outside.

Video from a nearby vehicle and evidence at the scene told investigators a man had pulled into a nearby parking lot and left his vehicle carrying a rifle.

Question of the Week

Has the removal of the GST from restaurant meals, alcohol and other goods and services made a noticeable difference to your pocketbook?

4h ago

1000 Ways to Heal

1000 Ways to Heal: Recycling

5h ago

One Man's Opinion

COLLINS: The end of the world as we know it?

Jan 19, 2025

Officers leaving the detachment to investigate saw the man pointing a rifle in their direction and took cover.

Not long after, the man turned his gun on himself, fatally wounding himself.

IIO Chief Civilian Director Ron MacDonald says police officers played no role in the man’s death and has concluded his investigation without forwarding it to Crown counsel.