Suspect seriously injured during arrest by West Kelowna RCMP

A man was seriously injured during an arrest in West Kelowna in February after a hit and run.

B.C.'s police watchdog is now investigating whether a West Kelowna RCMP officer injured the man and should be criminally charged.

Police were responding to a hit and run near Elliott and Gossett roads around 8:15 p.m., Feb. 28. Officers found the driver of the black pickup truck nearby and took him into custody.

The man was seriously injured during the arrest, but West Kelowna RCMP only learned of the injury the next day, then reported it to the Independent Investigations Office of BC, according to an IIO news release issued today, April 19.

The news release does not detail the extent of his injuries, nor does it suggest how he might have been injured while being arrested.

The Independent Investigations Office is a civilian oversight agency, which investigates all police-related incidents with serious harm or death. It will forward recommendations to Crown prosecutors for review if the agency believes an officer should be held criminally responsible.

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