A man arrested by Prince George RCMP in connection with a stolen vehicle was taken to hospital with serious injuries Thursday evening.
RCMP have called in the Independent Investigations Office of British Columbia to determine if police actions were the cause of the man’s injuries.
An in-vehicle tracking company called the RCMP just before 7:30 p.m. to report that a truck stolen in Alberta was detected in the Prince George area. A subsequent call to police reported that a truck bearing the licence plates of the stolen vehicle had been driven into the parking lot in the 1400 block of Old Cariboo Highway. Three people in the truck, a man and two women, fled the truck on foot.
The two women were located a short distance away from the truck, while the man was tracked by a police dog team and taken into custody. One of the women was released without charges and the other woman and the man were driven to the downtown Prince George RCMP detachment, where it was discovered the man was suffering from serious injuries and he was taken to University Hospital of Northern BC and was admitted.
Prince George RCMP are continuing the criminal investigation, which includes charges of possession of a stolen vehicle, break and enter, driving while prohibited, possession of a controlled substance, and breach of probation. The woman was expected to appear in court today, while the man will appear on another date.
According to Staff Sgt. Janelle Shoihet, senior media relations officer for BC RCMP Communication Services, no further information will be released while the incident is under investigation by IIC BC. For more information about the IIO BC and updates, go to www.iiobc.ca
