The province’s police oversight body has cleared North Vancouver RCMP members after an investigation into the death of man during a wellness check.
The incident happened on March 29, 2022. Police were called to a home on the 1900 block of Marine Drive after someone called with concerns about the wellbeing of an elderly man. Officers determined he needed to go to Lions Gate Hospital, but the senior went into medical distress on his way to the police vehicle and he died, prompting the Independent Investigations Office to take a closer look.
The IIO is automatically tasked to review all police incidents that involve a death or serious harm, to determine if the actions or inactions of officers were a contributing factor, regardless of whether there is any allegation of wrongdoing.
The IIO has now wrapped its investigation into the March 29 incident and found police were not at fault.
“Independent witness statements and video show officers were escorting the man, who was walking with them, to a police vehicle when he went into medical distress. Emergency Health Services attended but, despite life-saving measures, the man was pronounced deceased at the scene,” the June 1 statement from the IIO read. “The chief civilian director has reviewed the evidence, including medical records, civilian witness statements, video footage, and police statements, and determined that the actions of the officer were appropriate and did not contribute to the man’s tragic death.”
The man’s death remains under investigation by the BC Coroners Service.
