Person seriously injured while in Vancouver police custody, IIO notified more than 2 months later
B.C.'s police watchdog is looking into an incident that led to one person being seriously injured while in Vancouver police custody, but says it was weeks before it was notified.
The Independent Investigations Office of B.C. issued a notice Tuesday saying it's investigating the person's injury after an incident unfolded on Feb. 13. The IIO said it was told about the situation by the Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner on April 26.
According to the IIO, the person was taken out of a holding cell by special municipal constables.
"There was an interaction outside the holding cell, the (affected person) suffered a serious injury and was transported to a hospital for evaluation and treatment," the IIO's statement said. "Initial investigative steps will seek to clarify the circumstances surrounding the person's injury."
The IIO investigates any officer-involved incidents that result in death or serious injury, whether or not there are allegations of wrongdoing.
According to the IIO, the civilian-led agency's authority comes from B.C.'s Police Act, "which requires the police to notify it of any incident that may fall within its jurisdiction." In this instance, however, the IIO was told about the incident by the OPCC, not the Vancouver Police Department.
In an emailed statement to CTV News Vancouver, the IIO explained a delay in notification is sometimes "the result of the police agency being unaware of the severity of the injury at the time the incident occurred."
"Whether that was the case in this instance will be determined during the IIO investigation," the statement said.
CTV News Vancouver has sent multiple requests for comment to the VPD, and has not received a response. This story will be updated if one is received.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING 122 active wildfires burning across Canada, 32 considered 'out of control'
The 2024 wildfire season has begun, and it's shaping up to follow last year's unprecedented destruction in kind, with thousands of square kilometres already consumed.
B.C. parents sentenced to 15 years for death of 6-year-old boy
A British Columbia Supreme Court judge has sentenced the mother and stepfather of a six-year-old boy who died from blunt-force trauma in 2018 to 15 years in prison.
Veteran TSN sportscaster Darren Dutchyshen has died
Veteran TSN broadcaster Darren 'Dutch' Dutchyshen, one of Canada’s best-known sports journalists, has died. He was 57. His family says 'he passed as he was surrounded by his closest loved ones.'
'More aggressive': Tocchet shifts lineups as Canucks get ready to take on Oilers in Vancouver
As the Canucks prepare to take on the Oilers for Game 5, Vancouver head coach Rick Tocchet is making changes to the team's lineup.
Police issue Canada-wide warrant for Regina homicide suspect
Police have issued a Canada-wide warrant for a man wanted in a homicide which occurred in Regina on May 12.
Kevin Spacey receives star support as he fights to get his career back
Kevin Spacey is pushing back on the 'rush to judgment' against him and is being backed by some big names as he seeks to reclaim his acting career.
Trudeau calls New Brunswick's Conservative government a 'disgrace' on women's rights
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau assailed New Brunswick's premier and other conservative leaders on Thursday, calling out the provincial government's position on abortion, LGBTQ youth and climate change.
Speaker cuts ties with Sask. Party, alleges he faced threats, harassment from gov't MLAs
The Speaker of the Saskatchewan Legislature Randy Weekes has severed ties with the Sask. Party after accusing some members of harassment and intimidation tactics, including a situation he claimed saw the Government House Leader bring a hunting rifle to the legislative building.
A Toronto man killed his mother and decapitated her. His lawyers argue it wasn't murder
A ‘lifetime of abuse’ led Dallas Ly to snap and repeatedly stab his mother inside their Leslieville apartment in 2022 but he never intended to kill her, his defence lawyers argued during his murder trial in Toronto on Thursday.