Image Credit: IIO
IIO

Police watchdog recommends charges after man injured in 2020 arrest near Sicamous

Oct 22, 2021 | 1:48 PM

SICAMOUS, B.C. — The Independent Investigations Office of B.C. (IIO) has announced a charge recommendation against RCMP officers after an incident near Sicamous in April, 2020.

At about 12:00 noon on April 14, 2020, Mounties responded to the report of a suspicious person on a forest service road off Highway 97A near Sicamous.

Based on a description provided by the caller, responding officers believed the vehicle involved was connected to a man wanted on several outstanding warrants. Members from Revelstoke and Salmon Arm were called in to assist in making an arrest.

Officers tried to stop the man’s vehicle, but were unsuccessful. They later caught up to him when his vehicle crashed.

As officers arrested the man, he suffered “serious but not life-threatening” injuries. He was treated in hospital before being released back into police custody.

IIO Chief Civilian Director Ron MacDonald reviewed the facts and deemed there were reasonable ground to believe the arresting officers may have committed offences “in relation to use of force.”

The investigation has been forwarded to the B.C. Prosecution Service for charge consideration.