The Independent Investigations Office (IIO) has confirmed it’s looking into a second case involving Sunshine Coast RCMP, tied to an incident in early April.
Detachment commander, Staff Sgt. Poppy Hallam, told the Sunshine Coast Regional District’s policing committee about the second investigation April 18, during her regular briefing on notable files. She was not able to offer further details because once IIO becomes involved, police departments are limited in what they can say publicly.
The investigation was opened April 3 and involves an incident in Gibsons.
According to the IIO, RCMP were responding to a call about an intoxicated man, who they subsequently arrested. At some point after he was taken into custody and being transported in a police cruiser to the cells, he started kicking at the vehicle from inside.
The man was taken to hospital after complaining of a sore leg and doctors found he had suffered serious injuries.
IIO officials told Coast Reporter that there was no media release immediately after the incident because they were still deciding whether the case fell within the IIO’s mandate.
Now, after examining medical reports, they’ve determined the man’s injuries met the definition of “serious harm” that governs whether the IIO will investigate.
The IIO’s investigation of an April 9 incident where a suspect in a bank fraud case died after being chased when he tried to outrun officers was quickly closed with the IIO concluding that the man died of natural causes that were not the result of “action or inaction” on the part of the officers involved.
– With files from Sophie Woodrooffe
