RCMP hoping to identify 2 men who witnessed the Mona Wang incident at UBCO

The investigation into the Kelowna RCMP’s wellness check on UBC Okanagan nursing student Mona Wang remains under investigation and there’s hope that a pair of potential witnesses can move it forward.

The RCMP is hoping to identify two men who were seen on surveillance footage in the residential building at 883 Academy Way around 5:45 pm on Jan. 20, 2020.

One is described as light-skinned with light hair and a clean shaven face, who was wearing a jacket and blue jeans at the time.

The other is dark-skinned with dark hair and facial hair, wearing a dark-coloured winter jacket with an orange-lined hood and a dark-coloured backpack.

The first man is seen going up the stairs, while the other enters the lobby through the main glass doors.

“We are looking to identify these men as we believe they may have been witnesses and could provide important information in relation to an on-going investigation,” said S/Sgt. Janelle Shoihet.

“If you are these men, or can identify them you are asked to contact the Cpl. Tyler Bell at 250-491-5362.”

Wang was dragged out of her room in the building by Cst. Lacey Browning on the evening Jan. 20, 2020, after Wang’s boyfriend had called the RCMP to request a wellness check.

The officer is then seen on video, the same surveillance camera that captured the two men inside the building, stepping on the student’s head and pulling her up by her hair.

Wang has filed a civil claim against Browning, who has been placed on administrative duties, while the Abbotsford Police Department conducted an external investigation into the incident.

In late August, the APD concluded that the Kelowna RCMP needed to further investigate Browning's actions and the incident as a whole.