B.C.’s police watchdog investigating after man sent to hospital on Vancouver Island

B.C.'s police watchdog is investigating after a man was sent to the hospital after police attempted to deploy a spike belt on Vancouver Island.

The Comox Valley RCMP responded to a report of a stolen vehicle in the area, Oct. 5.

An officer found the truck in the parking lot of a business, but police reported the driver of the truck saw the officer and, following an interaction between the truck and police vehicle, drove away eastbound on Ryan Road, according to a news release from the Independent Investigations Office, the oversight agency for police in B.C.

More officers responded and the truck was seen several other times at different locations. Eventually, officers located the truck near Prestwick Place, and while trying to drive away, the truck left the road and subsequently came to a stop nearby, according to the investigations office.

Police say they were attempting to deploy a spike belt when the vehicle drove past them, lost control and rolled.

Emergency Health Services responded and transported the man to a hospital with serious injuries.

The IIO is investigating to determine what role, if any, police may have played in the man’s injuries.

The IIO is asking any person with relevant information or video footage regarding the incident to please contact the Witness Line toll-free at 1-855-446-8477 or via the contact form on the IIO website.

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