Police watchdog clears RCMP in case where man hurt himself

B.C.’s Independent Investigations Office has determined there was no connection between a man who injured himself and police action during a confrontation in Sicamous this week.

“The IIO has released jurisdiction and will no longer be investigating as there is no apparent connection between the injuries sustained by the male and the actions of police,” said spokesman Aidan Buckley with the Independent Investigations Office of B.C.

About 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Sicamous RCMP were called to a car wash on Maier Road after they received a report of a man who was threatening to kill himself with a knife.

Police who responded to the call also requested Emergency Health Services be on standby at the scene. When police arrived, the man was found suffering from what appeared to be self-inflicted wounds. He then ran away from police while allegedly continuing to injure himself with a weapon. Officers then ran after the man into a nearby gas station parking lot while continually demanding he drop the weapon.

“The police officer equipped with a conducted energy weapon (CEW) continued to verbally engage the man who eventually got to his knees on the ground,” says an RCMP new release.

The officer did not use the Taser and the man was taken into custody. Police provided first aid until paramedics arrived and took him to the hospital for medical assessment. No one else was injured in the incident.