Image Credit: IIO

By James Peters

IIO

Police watchdog clears RCMP officer after Lytton man dies fleeing from traffic stop

May 13, 2021 | 10:43 AM

LYTTON, B.C. — B.C.’s police watchdog has cleared an RCMP officer in the case of a Lytton man who went missing and was later found dead after fleeing from a traffic stop.

The Independent Investigations Office of B.C. (IIO) released its report Thursday (May 13) after concluding an investigation into the August, 2020 incident.

On August 12 of last year, an RCMP officer pulled over a vehicle near Lytton, suspecting the driver was impaired.

As the officer was conducting a sobriety test on the driver, the driver ran away across two lanes of highway traffic and down a steep bank toward the Fraser River.

The Mountie decided against pursuing the man, believing he would return to his home, which was nearby.

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Six days later, the man’s body was found in the Fraser River near Hope. The B.C. Coroners Service determined he had drowned.

In the report, IIO Chief Civilian Director Ron MacDonald noted the officer’s decisions not to pursue or search for the man after his escape were reasonable.

MacDonald said there is no evidence to conclude the officer committed an offence, and the issue will not be forwarded to the B.C. Prosecution Service for charge consideration.