B.C. police watchdog investigating after man dies in custody
Independent Investigations Office says it's looking to confirm details of man's arrest, medical event, death
British Columbia's police oversight agency says it is investigating after a man died in police custody in Maple Ridge last week.
Police announced Monday that Ridge Meadows RCMP received a report of a possible impaired driver near Lougheed Highway and Old Dewdney Trunk Road in Pitt Meadows on Sept. 19. According to a news release, officers arrested the man without incident.
Police said the man was found not responsive during a routine cell check just before midnight and died despite receiving medical assistance.
The RCMP said it has notified the Independent Investigations Office of B.C. (IIO), and the watchdog confirmed Monday that it was investigating.
In its own statement, the IIO says police reported the man was driving a GMC Sierra pickup truck, and the arrest took place after 7 p.m. The IIO says the man was found to be in medical distress at around 11:45 p.m.
The agency says it is looking to confirm details of the man's arrest as well as his subsequent medical event and death to determine if there are any reasonable grounds to believe that any officer may have committed an offence. The agency declined to provide any additional information Monday afternoon, saying that its investigation is still in the "very early stages."
The RCMP have said they will not be releasing additional information about the case because it is now under investigation by the oversight agency.
The IIO is asking anyone with video footage or information about the incident to call 1-855-446-8477 or use the contact form at iiobc.ca.