Charges possible against RCMP officer in Kamloops arrest after false report
B.C.'s police watchdog believes "reasonable grounds exist" to suggest a member of the RCMP may have committed an offence.
The report from the Independent Investigations Office of B.C. has been sent on to the B.C. Prosecution Service for its consideration, meaning charges may stem from the investigation.
The IIO was tasked with looking into an arrest in June 2020. Police were called to a home in Kamloops, B.C., for what was ultimately determined to be a fake report of someone threatening to use a gun.
According to Mounties, they found out later there was no gun, and there had not been any disturbance. They described the case as an incident of public mischief.
A summary made public by the IIO Wednesday said officers got to the house on Newton Street shortly before 11 p.m. on June 23 of last year, and told everyone in the home to get out.
An officer fired what the IIO describes as a "40mm less-lethal round," known colloquially as a rubber bullet, at one of the men as he left. A police dog was also used during the arrest, and the man was seriously injured, the IIO said.
The RCMP said at the time that the man "allegedly did not immediately exit," then "allegedly refused to follow police direction," prior to use of the dog and the rubber bullet.
IIO Chief Civilian Director Ronald MacDonald did not provide details of what was uncovered during the office's investigation, but wrote that the evidence suggested "reasonable grounds… to believe that an officer may have committed offences in relation to the use of force."
Thus, his report was sent on to Crown counsel for its consideration. The prosecution service will only approve charges if there is a substantial likelihood of conviction based on the IIO's evidence, and if the charges are determined to be in the public interest, the IIO said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NDP motion regarding Palestinian statehood passes after major Liberal alterations
A motion from the federal New Democrats initially calling on Canada to recognize the 'State of Palestine' passed amid widespread acrimony on Monday, after the Liberals drastically altered its wording to see the government simply work towards that aim as part of a two-state solution.
'He didn't want to die': Family of Calgary man killed in standoff speaks out
Family of a Calgary man killed after a 30-hour standoff with police last week are speaking out, sharing details of the tense and heart-wrenching experience.
Toronto family doctor who called patient's body 'perfect' suspended for 3 months: tribunal
A family doctor in Toronto has been suspended for three months after a disciplinary tribunal found that he failed to follow proper protocols while examining a patient's breasts and made inappropriate comments about her body.
Ohio mom who left toddler alone 10 days when she went on vacation pleads guilty to aggravated murder
An Ohio mother whose 16-month-old daughter died after being left home alone in a playpen for 10 days last summer while she went on vacation was sentenced Monday to life in prison with no chance of parole.
Retired teacher pleads guilty to paying for sex with 15-year-old in Collingwood, Ont.
In a Barrie courtroom on Monday, a retired high school teacher from the Niagara Region pleaded guilty to sexual touching and obtaining sexual services from a 15-year-old boy in Collingwood in 2021.
Hertz CEO out following electric car 'horror show'
The company, which announced in January it was selling 20,000 of the electric vehicles in its fleet, or about a third of the EVs it owned, is now replacing the CEO who helped build up that fleet, giving it the company’s fifth boss in just four years.
5 charged in Calgary kidnappings that targeted women
Calgary police have charged five men in a pair of kidnappings last year that targeted innocent victims.
Demand soars for solar eclipse glasses in Canada. Are they worth buying?
The demand for total solar eclipse glasses used to safely view the rare celestial event has been ramping up as sellers, along with astronomy and eye-care experts in Canada, warn that viewing the eclipse with the naked eye is dangerous.
Canadian commander of volunteer fighter group dies in Ukraine
A Canadian-born commander of the so-called Norman Brigade, a volunteer fighting group in Ukraine, has died.