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(JOHN MCDONALD / iNFOnews.ca)
March 27, 2023 - 7:00 PM
B.C.'s police watchdog is investigating after Kamloops RCMP learned a man was seriously injured a month after his arrest.
The arrest was on Feb. 17, but the Independent Investigations Office of B.C. just started its investigation.
"The RCMP was not aware (he) may have sustained serious harm until last week, at which time they appropriately notified the IIO," Rebecca Whalen, spokesperson for the police watchdog, said in an emailed statement.
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Whalen didn't give any details about why the man was arrested or what Kamloops RCMP was investigating.
She did say the man was allegedly injured during the his February arrest.
The Independent Investigations Office is called when police may have injured or killed a person in B.C. They work to determine whether an officer might be criminally responsible and forward their recommendations to the B.C. Prosecution Service for a final decision.
A serious injury is defined in B.C.'s Police Act as "injury that may result in death, may cause serious disfigurement or may cause substantial loss or impairment of mobility of the body as a whole or of the function of any limb or organ."
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Whalen didn't provide any details about the extent of his injuries, but investigators will determine how severe they are and whether any police officers went beyond the scope of their duties.
B.C. RCMP spokesperson Cpl. James Grandy was unable to respond immediately.
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