B.C.’s police watchdog investigating Penticton RCMP following man’s death after wellness check

Independent Investigations Office of B.C. is investigating after a man died from a self-inflicted wound less than 12 hours after Penticton RCMP spoke to him as part of a wellness check last month.

Police spoke with the man at around 7:30 a.m., Oct. 2, at a home in the 900 block of Holden Road, according to an independent investigations office media release. An officer spoke to the man before leaving.

When another request was issued to check on the man around 11:35 a.m. the same day, there were no new concerns raised so police did not re-attend.

The man was found dead around 6 p.m. from an injury that appears to be self-inflicted, the independent investigation office said. It was notified the same day.

READ MORE: B.C.'s police watchdog called to investigate Princeton RCMP

The investigators will determine if the man’s death was a result of police actions or inactions.

The IIO is asking anyone with relevant information related to the incident to please contact the Witness Line toll-free at 1-855-446-8477 or online here.

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.

If you are in crisis, help is available:

• Call 310-6789 to be connected to the crisis centre nearest you (no area code required)
• Crisis Services Canada: crisisservicescanada.ca
• British Columbia: crisislines.bc.ca

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