B.C.'s civilian-based police watchdog has forwarded to Crown counsel findings from its investigation into a police-involved death in Prince George.
In a statement issued Monday, the Independent Investigations Office's chief director, Ron MacDonald, said "reasonable grounds exist to believe that an officer may have committed offences in relation to the standard of care" that Everett Riley Patrick received following his April 12, 2020 arrest at a downtown gun store.
Patrick was apprehended after police were called to a break and enter at E&I Sports in the 1400 block of Third Avenue shortly after 4 a.m.
At the time, police said the suspect attempted to flee on foot but then retreated back into the store where he remained holed up while the North District RCMP emergency response team was called in and portions of Fourth Avenue and Brunswick Street were closed off.
About 3 1/2 hours later, Patrick was apprehended with the help of a police dog and transported to hospital for treatment of "minor wounds," RCMP said at the time.
From there, he was taken back into RCMP custody and, at about 4 p.m. that day, was found in medical distress and taken back to hospital where he died eight days later.
In determining whether to approve charges, Crown counsel must be satisfied that there is a substantial likelihood of conviction based on the evidence the IIO has gathers and that prosecution be required in the public interest.
