B.C.’s police watchdog is asking the public to refrain from speculating or sharing rumours in their most recent Prince George investigation involving a death in RCMP custody.
"The Independent Investigations Office has been advised that there may be inaccurate or speculative information circulating in public regarding a matter that the IIO is investigating," the release says. "This statement is in response to the potential misinformation being spread."
On Sunday (July 21), the IIO said they were investigating an incident where Prince George RCMP took an individual into custody on Friday (July 19) at roughly 9:30 p.m. for causing a disturbance.
The following day (July 20), the person was found in distress close to 4:30 a.m.
Paramedics were called in and the person was taken to a hospital.
Hospital staff then informed RCMP at 6:46 a.m. that the person had died.
The IIO has now confirmed it was a woman in her mid-thirties.
The IIO says in their statement this morning (July 24) there is no evidence pointing towards a taser being used.
The early investigation also does not point to any significant force used against the woman and video and documents have already been seized from the incident.
"We understand that this is a challenging time for the family and friends of the deceased and the community of Prince George," the statement adds. "We ask that the community refrain from speculating or sharing unsubstantiated information or rumours about this matter. The IIO’s role is to independently identify the facts and to communicate them to the people of British Columbia once that has been accomplished"
They say the Chief Civilian Director of the IIO will make a determination in the incident that is based on facts.
If you have any information about the incident, you are asked to call IIO witness line at 1-855-446-8477.
The IIO has issued a statement regarding an independent investigation currently underway in Prince George, BC (IIO 1019 – 124) https://t.co/pZ8q1IeEMk
— IIOBC (@iiobc) July 24, 2019
