The Independent Investigation Office of BC (IIO BC) is appealing for witnesses as it begins the investigation into the death of a man on the Okanagan Connector (Hwy 97C) last week.
The police watchdog’s probe will examine the RCMP’s role in the incident and whether the actions or inactions of officers contributed to the man’s death.
Initial information from the RCMP says that an officer spotted the man’s vehicle parked on the side of Hwy 97C, around 15 km southeast of Merritt, at 9:30 pm on Thursday, April 2.
At that same time, police received a call from out of province reporting concern for a family member believed to be in that area.
After the officer on scene reported the man inside the vehicle had a firearm, the Emergency Response Team and other additional officers were called in to set up containment.
“Police then used remote equipment and discovered the man had sustained what appears to be a self-inflicted injury while inside the vehicle,” the IIO BC debrief explained.
The man was pronounced dead at the scene.
The IIO BC investigation will examine all available evidence to determine what occurred on that night and whether there are reasonable grounds to believe officers may have committed an offence.
