Police watchdog investigating Sicamous RCMP incident
SICAMOUS – B.C.’s police watchdog is investigating an incident involving the Sicamous RCMP.
On Tuesday, Aug. 8, Sicamous officers were called about a man allegedly threatening to kill himself with a knife at a local car wash located on Maier Road, according to a release from the RCMP.
Police immediately drove to the scene and asked Emergency Health Services to attend the area in case their services were needed, the release says. When police arrived, the man was located with what appeared to be self-inflicted wounds.
“The man then ran away from police while allegedly continuing to injure himself with a weapon. A police officer proceeded to run after the man on foot into a nearby gas station parking lot while issuing verbal commands to the man to drop the weapon,” states the release.
The police officer had a conducted energy weapon, but according to the release it was not deployed. The officer continued to verbally engage the man who eventually got to his knees on the ground and was apprehended.
“Police provided immediate first aid to the man until Emergency Health Services arrived shortly thereafter,” the release says.
The man was transported to hospital for medical assessment. No one else was injured.
“As per protocols, Independent Investigations Office B.C. was notified and they will now investigate whether there is a connection between the man's injuries and the actions of police,” the release says.
No further information will be released by police because the case is now before the Independent Investigations Office.
Anyone who witnessed the incident is asked to contact the investigations office at 1-855-446-8477.
The Independent Investigations Office investigates officer-related incidents of death or serious harm in order to determine whether or not an officer may have committed an offence.
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