B.C. police watchdog forwards report to Crown prosecutors after investigation

SURREY, B.C. – A Crown prosecutor will have to decide whether to charge a British Columbia Mountie following an investigation by a police watchdog.

The Independent Investigations Office says it has forwarded its first such report to Crown counsel that examines an officer-involved incident in the southeastern B.C. community of Creston on Oct. 6, 2012.

The agency says an unidentified male suffered serious facial injuries and was transported to a medical facility after a physical altercation with an officer at a local business.

Mounties notified the agency of the incident, and independent investigators conducted interviews and examined evidence.

The agency says its chief civilian director forwarded a report to Crown counsel after determining the unidentified officer may have committed an offence.

The office says the chief civilian director does not recommend any specific charges to the Crown, which maintains full jurisdiction over the charge assessment and approval process.