Charges possible for 3 officers after fatal Abbotsford police pursuit, IIO says
Three police officers may face charges in connection to an August 2022 pursuit in Abbotsford that ended with two people dead, the Independent Investigations Office of B.C. announced Tuesday.
The incident began around 3 p.m. on Aug. 7, 2022, near the intersection of Livingstone Avenue and Maclure Road.
At that location, officers from the Abbotsford Police Department encountered a white Acura Integra that had been reported stolen in the B.C. Interior and was believed to have "a connection" to the discovery of human remains in a burned out vehicle in Summerland the day before.
The initial officers lost sight of the vehicle and did not attempt to stop it, according to the IIO.
A little more than an hour later, around 4:10 p.m., officers encountered the vehicle again, this time in the parking lot of a strip mall near the intersection of Hillcrest Avenue and Commercial Street. This time, the IIO says, police attempted to stop the vehicle, and pursued it when it fled.
During the pursuit, the Acura went off of Maclure Road near Clearbrook Road and collided with a tree. The driver was taken to hospital, where he soon died. The female passenger was pronounced dead at the scene.
After reviewing the evidence in the case, IIO chief civilian director Ronald J. MacDonald determined "reasonable grounds exist to believe that three officers may have committed offences" and has submitted a report to the BC Prosecution Service for consideration of charges, according to the IIO.
Prosecutors will now review the case and decide whether any officers should be charged.
"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," the IIO's statement reads.
The IIO looks into all incidents involving police officers in B.C. that result in death or serious harm, regardless of whether there is any allegation of wrongdoing on the part of police.
In its statement Tuesday, the IIO did not specify what offences MacDonald believes the officers may have committed. It said it will not be making any additional comments on the case while the matter is with the Crown.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
A 'tragedy that can't be measured': North Bay's forever chemical problem is also the rest of Canada's
For decades, North Bay, Ontario's water supply has harboured chemicals associated with liver and developmental issues, cancer and complications with pregnancy. It's far from the only city with that problem.
opinion How to use your credit card as a powerful wealth-building tool
Irresponsibly using a credit card can land you in financial trouble, but personal finance columnist Christopher Liew says when used properly, it can be a powerful wealth-building tool that can help grow your credit profile and create new opportunities.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Questlove was not happy with Drake and Kendrick Lamar's beef: 'Nobody won the war'
While some may have been excited and/or amused by the diss-track feud between Drake and Kendrick Lamar, the man many consider to be an elder statesman of hip-hop appears less than enthused about it.
Trump heading to Jersey Shore to rally 'mega crowd' in weekend break from hush money trial
After a long week in court, Donald Trump is heading to the Jersey Shore. And his campaign says he'll be joined by "tens of thousands" of his friends.
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
For moms-to-be, it's possible to take maternity leave without breaking the bank
Pregnancy is often an exciting and anxious time for parents-to-be. And while painting the nursery and choosing a stroller are typically on the agenda, experts say preparing financially for a maternity leave can help reduce stress later on as well.
Fine dining, at a new high. A Michelin-starred chef will take his cuisine to our upper atmosphere
Six guests are set to ascend aboard Spaceship Neptune to the stratosphere, where they will enjoy an immersive dining experience served up by Danish Michelin-starred chef Rasmus Munk.