The province’s civilian police oversight agency is investigating a North Vancouver RCMP incident that culminated in a suspect taking his own life.
The incident happened more than six weeks ago on Feb 1, according to a release from the Independent Investigations Office. Around 3:20 a.m., a North Vancouver RCMP member spotted a pickup truck with no insurance parked in the 4900-block of Skyline Drive.
The truck was registered to a man with an outstanding warrant for his arrest. He was inside but refused to come out, according to the release, so the local RCMP members called in the more heavily armed Emergency Response Team.
“Several tactics were reportedly utilized in an attempt to persuade the man to exit. Just before 6 a.m., officers reportedly heard a gunshot from inside the vehicle. The man was pronounced dead at the scene,” the release from the IIO stated.
The IIO is automatically tasked to review any police incidents that result in serious harm or death and may result in a recommendation to the Crown to lay criminal charges.
“[This] is one where we are examining the actions of police to determine whether they were appropriate in the circumstance and, if so or if not, whether that would justify a referral to the Crown,” said IIO chief civilian director Ron MacDonald. “We need to determine whether that played some form of role in the decision by the individual to take their own life. And in those cases, the test to constitute a criminal offence is very high.”
North Vancouver RCMP has declined to comment.
The release included several resources available to anyone experiencing a mental health crisis, including the Crisis Line Association of BC at 310-6789 (no area code required) and the Canada Suicide Prevention Service.
