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
Canadian gov't proposes new foreign influence registry as part of wide-spanning new bill
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is proposing a suite of new measures and law changes aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada, amid extensive scrutiny over past meddling attempts and an ever-evolving threat landscape.
Boeing Starliner capsule's first crewed test flight postponed
The long-awaited first crewed test flight of Boeing's new Starliner space capsule was called off for at least 24 hours over a technical issue that launch teams were unable to resolve in time for the planned Monday night lift-off.
Teacher charged in historical sexual assault of Calgary teenage girl
Calgary police have charged a teacher with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl more than 20 years ago.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Newfoundland and Labrador latest province to tighten rules on Airbnbs
Newfoundland and Labrador is the latest jurisdiction to bring in stricter rules for short-term rentals, with a coming set of regulations that will force operators to register with the provincial government.