Police watchdog clears Vancouver officer after woman dies in custody

VANCOUVER – B.C.’s police watchdog has cleared a Vancouver officer of any wrongdoing after a woman’s death in custody.

The Independent Investigations Office says evidenceit collected does not suggest that the officer committed a criminal offence.

It says in a report that police were called to a home about a domestic disturbance on Dec. 15, 2014 and took a woman into custody.

She fell unconscious in the back of a police van and was transported to hospital, where she died eight days later.

The IIO says the woman was likely impaired when she was arrested, but did not appear to need medical attention.

The civilian agency investigates all police matters involving serious injury or death.