The Independent Investigations Office (IIO) of BC has filed a report to the BC Prosecution Service for consideration of charges in relation to an arrest made in Williams Lake in October 2020.
A man was arrested following an incident of alleged dangerous driving between Kamloops and Williams Lake on October 25th, 2021. The vehicle was eventually stopped on Highway 97 near White Road in Williams Lake, where the man exited the vehicle and went down a nearby embankment followed by two officers. What the IIO describes as an ‘interaction’ occurred before the man was taken into custody.
According to the IIO, the injuries sustained by the man did not meet the required threshold for serious harm as defined by the Police Act. Because of significant public scrutiny generated by video captured of the arrest, an IIO investigation was ordered by the Director of Police Services.
Following the investigation, it was determined by Chief Civilian Director Ronald J. McDonald QC, that reasonable grounds exist to believe that one of the involved officers may have committed an offence in relation to the use of force during the arrest. As a result, and pursuant to Section 38.11 of the Police Act, the IIO has forwarded a report to the BC Prosecution Service for consideration of charges.
According to the IIO, in order to approve any charges, the BC Prosecution Service must be satisfied that there is a substantial likelihood of conviction based on the evidence gathered by the IIO, and that prosecution be required in the public interest.