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(CHARLOTTE HELSTON / iNFOnews.ca)
August 11, 2022 - 2:34 PM
The B.C. police watchdog has ruled Vernon RCMP were not responsible for the death of a man who died shortly after officers took him to the hospital.
According to an Aug. 10, B.C. Independent Investigations Office decision, the civilian body has reviewed the circumstances around the case and concluded that the police's actions were not a factor in the man's death.
The police watchdog said at around 7:30 a.m. April 25, police officers attended a Vernon residence and transported the man to the hospital without incident.
"Video footage shows that when the man arrived with officers at the hospital, he went into medical distress. Despite the life-saving efforts of medical staff, the man was pronounced deceased," the investigations office decision read.
The investigations office says it has reviewed the evidence which includes a civilian witness statement, video footage and police information, and concluded the cause of death was not related to any police actions or inactions.
The B.C. Coroners Service investigation into the death is still ongoing.
No other information about the deceased man or the circumstances surrounding his death has been made public.
The Independent Investigations Office is an independent civilian oversight agency of the police in British Columbia. 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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