British Columbia’s independent police oversight body has raised concerns about the behavior of certain RCMP officers who were uncooperative during an investigation. The Independent Investigations Office of B.C. (IIO) highlighted these issues in a report by Chief Civilian Director Jessica Berglund regarding the death of a man involved in an arrest in Dawson Creek, B.C., in 2024.
While the report found no grounds to believe the officers had committed a crime, it did express worries about the conduct of the police following the incident. Responding to reports of a chaotic situation involving screaming, fighting, and bear spraying, the officers discovered weapons at the scene, including knives, bear spray, and a CO2-powered rifle for crossbow bolts.
During the ensuing confrontation with the man, who had bitten three officers, one officer resorted to multiple punches to the man’s face. Subsequently, the man became unresponsive after the arrest, leading to his transfer to a hospital in Edmonton where he passed away the following day. An autopsy revealed no head injury but pointed to methamphetamine and cocaine toxicity as contributing factors to his death.
Berglund determined that the officers’ use of force was justified given the circumstances. However, she noted instances where officers failed to fulfill their obligations under the Police Act to cooperate fully with IIO investigators. These failures included not submitting notes and reports, declining meetings with investigators, discrepancies in handling photos of the involved officers, and delays in providing crucial evidence.
CBC News reached out to the RCMP for comment, but no response has been received yet. Berglund confirmed that the issues had been addressed with senior RCMP management. The IIO’s primary role is to investigate all incidents resulting in death or serious harm following interactions with the police, irrespective of any alleged misconduct.
This incident is not the first time the IIO has encountered resistance from officers during investigations. In a previous case involving the Vancouver Police Department, officers refused interviews following the death of Myles Gray, leading to a legal battle that ultimately determined police officers are obligated to fully cooperate with the watchdog’s investigations.
