IIO recommends charges against police in Vernon arrest

Vernon RCMP arrested a man for unknown reasons in June 2021, but it may be the police facing charges.

B.C.'s police watchdog, the Independent Investigations Office, was called to investigate after the man arrested "sustained serious injuries" in the arrest.

Now, almost three years later, Chief Civilian Director Ronald J. MacDonald says they found reasonable grounds to believe two police officers committed crimes in the use of force.

The notice, issued today, April 10, is very light on details. It doesn't identify the man arrested, nor what what allegations he was arrested for. It doesn't name the RCMP officers and doesn't specify what injuries the man sustained.

Police arrested the man June 30, 2021 in the 2800-block of 28 Street in Vernon. He was taken to the local detachment before being taken to hospital for treatment.

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