IIO not recommending charges for Kamloops officers following 2021 tasing
KAMLOOPS — B.C.’s police watchdog will not recommend charges against Kamloops RCMP officers after a man suffered permanent brain damage from a tasing last winter.
In a report published Tuesday (Sept. 20), the Independent Investigations Office of BC (IIO) says officers responded to a call of a man experiencing a psychotic episode after going three days without sleep. IIO says officers saw him throw a rock at a vehicle, a snowball at an ambulance, and attempt to pull a delivery driver from their car.
According to the report, the man ran at one officer and another officer discharged a taser at him. The initial officer then discharged his taser after the man was still mobile, then the man fell backwards onto the ground and struck his head.
IIO Chief Civilian Director Ronald MacDonald says officers had reasons to be concerned about how to restrain the man and take him into custody, and the potential risks to the public and to himself if they couldn’t.


