Kelowna cop absolved of wrongdoing after police dog bite sent man to hospital

B.C.'s police watchdog has determined no charges are necessary after a man was bit by a police dog on the Okanagan Rail Trail last year and required surgery.

On Aug. 1, 2020, an RCMP investigation into a stolen electric mountain bike led officers to the Okanagan Rail Trail near Hardy Street in Kelowna.

The potential suspect was bitten by a police dog and he was later taken to hospital, according to a news release from the Independent Investigations Office of B.C.

After reviewing the evidence, the civilian oversight agency found no reason to believe a police officer committed an offence.

Normally, the Independent Investigations Office would release a full report detailing the investigation, but there are currently related offences going through B.C. courts.

The investigation was concluded in April, but a full report is expected once the court process in finished, the IIO said.

The IIO is the independent civilian oversight agency of the police in B.C. It investigates all officer-related incidents that result in serious harm or death, whether or not there is any allegation of wrongdoing.

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