Person found dead in West Vancouver, homicide investigation launched

High-rise condos and apartments are seen in West Vancouver, B.C. on May 18, 2020. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)

Police have launched a homicide investigation after an individual was found dead in an apartment in West Vancouver.

Local police provided few details about the incident, saying officers were sent to a home in the Ambleside District in the early hours of Friday morning to check on a 911 caller’s wellbeing.

“Officers located a deceased person in an apartment, and the initial investigation resulted in the arrest of a person present at the scene,” the West Vancouver Police Department wrote in a news release.

The department did not elaborate on how the person died or provide any identifying information about the deceased or arrested person.

“We want to assure the public that there is no ongoing risk to their safety,” spokesperson Sgt. Chris Bigland said in the release.

“At this time, the investigation is in the evidence gathering phase and it is believed to be an isolated incident.”

The case has been handed over to the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team and police asked anyone with information or who was around the 1400 block of Esquimalt Avenue around 1 a.m. to contact IHIT, which can be reached at 1-877-551-4448 or [e-mail].