The Independent Investigations Office is looking into the conduct of officers who arrested a woman, who later ended up in medical distress while in jail.
At around 10 am on January 11, RCMP were called to a traffic collision in Qualicum Beach, where a woman had crashed her 2009 black Jeep Patriot into a parked car. The collision happened outside a laundry facility attached to a Shell gas station in the 2700 block of Island Highway West.
The woman displayed signs of impairment in her speech. She was arrested and taken to RCMP cells. However, later that day while still in her cell, she was found in a state of medical distress. She was taken to hospital in serious condition.
The hospital determined she had suffered a medical event resulting in a serious injury.
The IIO is BC’s civilian oversight agency for police. It’s now investigating her injuries, and if officers acted appropriately before and during her arrest.
The IIO is asking that any witnesses that have not already provided a statement, or who have other video footage of the incident, to please contact the IIO at the Witness Line toll-free at 1-855-446-8477 or via the contact form on the iiobc.ca website.
