B.C.’s independent police watchdog is investigating after a woman arrested and released in North Vancouver Sunday morning was found dead less than 24 hours later in Lions Bay.
North Vancouver RCMP officers arrested a woman in her 30s at a home in North Vancouver around 9:30 a.m. Feb. 9 for allegedly threatening a person she knew, according to the RCMP.
After the arrest, the woman was taken to the North Vancouver RCMP detachment and released from custody with a future court date and conditions not to contact the person she had allegedly threatened.
A day later, at 7:15 a.m. Monday morning, Squamish RCMP received a report of a vehicle engulfed in flames on Sunset Drive in Lions Bay.
Upon arrival, officers found the same woman dead in her car, which was on fire, said Ronald MacDonald, chief civilian director of the IIO.
MacDonald said the coroner’s office is working to determine cause of death.
The Independent Investigations Office is investigating to determine if police actions or inactions in the course of arresting and releasing the woman are linked to the woman’s death.
It’s the second time the Independent Investigations Office has been called in to examine circumstances of death following an arrest by RCMP in the past week. Last Wednesday, UBC RCMP released a young North Shore man from custody around 2:30 a.m. Two hours later his body was found on the shore near to the Lions Gate Bridge.
