(JOHN MCDONALD / iNFOnews.ca)
December 13, 2021 - 2:43 PM
The Independent Investigations Office of B.C. has concluded an investigation into an officer-involved in June in Merritt and concluded no RCMP officer committed an offence.
At approximately 3:50 p.m. on June 6, B.C. police attempted to stop a white Ford F-350 that was pulling a flat deck trailer, that was related to a stolen property file, according to an Independent Investigations Office of B.C.
The vehicle then fled the scene and the officer notified dispatchers.
It was confirmed through civilian witness, police sightings and police dash-cam that around 5:10 p.m. the truck was observed near Quilchena and Highway 5A, according to the IIO decision.
Police followed the vehicle travelling on Highway 5A, and stopped at the junction of Highway 8 and 97C, near Snake Road.
When the vehicle stopped, a gunfire exchange occurred, and the male driver sustained a serious but non-life-threatening injury.
The driver, and a child who was in the vehicle, were transported to hospital for treatment. The child did not sustain a gunshot injury.
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The chief civilian director reviewed the evidence and determined there wasn’t reasonable grounds to believe an officer committed an offence, and the matter will not be referred to the Crown counsel, the release said.
Due to concurrent court proceedings, the investigations office report will not be released, and the office will not comment further on the incident.
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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