Vancouver cop charged over 2019 arrest that left man seriously injured
A police constable who allegedly injured a man during an arrest in East Vancouver nearly three years ago has been charged with assault.
The B.C. Prosecution Service announced the single count against Simrit Roycombough on Thursday, saying in a news release that the charge was approved by "an experienced Crown counsel with no prior or current connection with the officer."
The allegations against Roycombough were investigated by the province's police watchdog, the Independent Investigations Office, which delivered a report to prosecutors back in January 2021.
Few details about the incident have been released to the public, but the IIO previously said the victim reported that he’d been walking with a friend near Strathcona Park in June 2019 when he had an interaction with a uniformed officer in an unmarked SUV.
That interaction allegedly ended with the officer tackling the man to the ground and arresting him, leaving him with serious injuries, the nature of which have not been disclosed.
The IIO said the victim was initially taken to jail before he was assessed and transported to hospital.
While the alleged incident took place on June 9, the IIO did not begin investigating until weeks later, after the injured man came forward.
B.C. police agencies have a duty to notify the watchdog of any officer-involved incidents that result in serious injury or death, but IIO spokesperson Rebecca Whalen told CTV News the severity of an arrestee’s injuries is not always immediately apparent.
“Such was the case in this incident,” Whalen said in an email. "I can confirm that the failure to notify the IIO was not deemed unreasonable.”
Back in 2016, Roycombough received a commendation from the Vancouver Police Department's chief constable, Adam Palmer, for his part in "doggedly pursuing a dangerous suspect, despite serious injury and life-threatening danger."
According to the commendation, Roycombough and two other officers helped apprehend a man who had allegedly stabbed an employee in a Surrey grocery store, then hopped into a parked car and forced the driver to help him escape at knifepoint.
It's unclear whether the constable remains on active duty. CTV News has reached out to Vancouver police for more information.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Liberal MP says she's leaving politics over disrespectful dialogue, threats, misogyny
Liberal MP Pam Damoff says she won't run again in the next federal election, saying she has experienced misogyny, disrespectful dialogue in politics and threats to her life.
Concerns about plexiglass prompt inspections at some Loblaws locations in Ottawa
Inspections are underway at more than one Loblaws location in Ottawa after complaints were filed about tall plexiglass barriers.
Federal employees will be required to spend 3 days a week in the office
Starting in September, public servants in the core public administration will be required to work in the office a minimum of three days a week. The Treasury Board Secretariat says executives will need to be in the office four days per week.
OPP officer said 'someone's going to get hurt' before wrong-way Hwy. 401 crash
As multiple Durham police cruisers were chasing a robbery suspect on the wrong side of Highway 401 Monday night, an Ontario Provincial Police officer shared his concerns, telling a dispatcher, "Someone's going to get hurt."
Eating disorders among youth skyrocketed during pandemic and so did associated costs, report finds
The number of young people experiencing eating disorders surged during the height of the pandemic as the social and economic costs skyrocketed too, a new pan-Canadian report has found.
Five human skeletons, missing hands and feet, found outside house of Nazi leader Hermann Göring
Archeologists have unearthed the skeletons of five people, missing their hands and feet, at a former Nazi military base in Poland.
Poilievre returns to House unrepentant for calling Trudeau 'wacko,' Speaker not resigning
An unrepentant Pierre Poilievre returned to the House of Commons on Wednesday to pepper the prime minister about his drug decriminalization policies after being booted the day prior for refusing to take back calling Justin Trudeau 'wacko' over his approach to the issue.
Ont. woman who faked pregnancy to defraud doulas arrested again on similar charges
Victims of a Brantford, Ont. woman who was sentenced to house arrest earlier this year for defrauding and deceiving doulas say they’re not surprised she’s been apprehended again on similar charges.
Toddler of Phoenix first responder dies after bounce house goes airborne
A two-year-old child died after a strong gust of wind sent the bounce house he was in airborne and into a neighbouring lot in central Arizona, the Pinal County Sheriff's Office said.