No criminality involved in Vernon man fatally burnt in Polson Park

Vernon RCMP have confirmed criminality was not involved in the death of the 53-year-old man that died several days after being burnt while in Polson Park.

Police had originally said it was treating the incident as suspicious after they discovered the man badly burnt at the intersection of 32 Street and 25 Avenue in the early hours of the morning Dec. 22, 2021.

Police say the man had sustained significant burns to a large portion of his body.

He was taken to hospital but died Dec. 26.

"On behalf of the Vernon North Okanagan RCMP, I would like to express our sincerest condolences to the family and friends of the victim," Vernon RCMP Const. Chris Terleski said in a media release.

According to a Jan. 11 Vernon North Okanagan RCMP media release police have conducted a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances leading up to the ma death, and that evidence gathered has led police to determine that criminality was not involved.

The release says Vernon RCMP is continuing to assist the B.C. Coroners Service in its investigation into the man’s death.

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