The provincial police watchdog is looking for witnesses to an arrest that injured a bystander last week.
An innocent man was bitten by a police dog as he ran for safety during a suspect takedown in New Westminster on Sept. 19, and the Independent Investigations Office was called to investigate.
On Monday, a week after the incident, the IIO asked anyone who witnessed what happened but hasn’t spoken with investigators yet to come forward.
"It is believed there were a number of cars passing through the area at that time," the IIO said in a statement.
"In addition, the IIO has been made aware that a witness may have recorded the incident on a cellphone. The IIO would like to speak to that witness and anyone else who may have witnessed the incident."
The attack occurred as officers tried to capture three potentially dangerous suspects, who were arrested and charged with kidnapping in connection to an East Vancouver abduction and double homicide.
The bystander received serious injuries from the dog, the IIO said in a statement Monday. Police have said he had no connection at all to the suspects or the case.
At the time, officers apologized that a member of the public "had to get caught up in something like that."
Sgt. Brian Montague said that the Vancouver Police Department has reached out to see if there's anything they can do to help.
The IIO is investigating whether the injuries the man suffered were the result of an offence committed by any of the officers at the scene. Anyone with information can contact the IIO’s office at 1-855-446-8477.
At the same time, police are continuing to investigate the events that led to the police dog bite.
Officers were called to a home on Dieppe Drive in Vancouver on Sept. 18, where 24-year-old Xuan Vanvy Bacao and 29-year-old Samantha Le were found dead. A four-year-old child was found terrified but unharmed in the home, and officers soon realized a third adult had been abducted.
The alleged abductee was rescued during the New Westminster takedown, police said.
Three suspects are in custody, and have been charged with one count each of kidnapping without the use of a firearm, unlawful confinement, extortion and aggravated assault.
Shamil Amir Ali, Harinam Cox and Gopal Figueredo are scheduled to appear in court next month.
