BC’s police watchdog is recommending that an RCMP officer be charged in a crash south of Nakusp last year that left a man dead.
The Independent Investigations Office of BC announced Friday that it has referred the matter to the BC Prosecution Service for a decision.
On the afternoon of Nov. 25, 2024, police spotted a pickup truck that had been reported stolen, going south on Highway 6 about one kilometer from the village.
An officer tried to pull the truck over, but soon after, it crashed into a ditch. The man who was behind the wheel died. A woman who was a passenger was arrested before being taken to hospital.
The IIO was notified of the incident and started investigating.
In a news release, the IIO said Chief Civilian Director Jessica Berglund reviewed the evidence and determined reasonable grounds exist to believe that the officer may have committed driving offences.
As with all files, Crown counsel must be satisfied there is a substantial likelihood of conviction, and that prosecution is in the public interest.
Neither the name of the officer involved nor the name of the man who was killed have been released.
The IIO 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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