Independent Investigations Office of British Columbia has two investigations currently underway in Prince Rupert

A pair of recent incidents in Prince Rupert are making for Two Open investigations underway by the Province's Independent Investigation Office, the civilian oversight agency of the police in the province.

Last week we made note of an ongoing investigation into the October 29th death of a patient at Prince Rupert Regional Hospital who had been transported to hospital after complaining of health issues while in custody at the Detachment cells on Sixth Avenue West.

There is also an Open Investigation to determine what happened when a woman sustained a serious injury on October 26th following events that began on the west side of the city.

The Independent Investigation Office provides the following background to that incident.

Information provided by the RCMP indicates that at about 11:50 p.m. on October 26, 2022, police responded to calls from bystanders concerned about the wellness of a woman reported to be standing in the road shouting at passing vehicles. 

Officers located the woman on Park Avenue, and it is reported that she was intoxicated. The woman was arrested and transported to Prince Rupert RCMP detachment cells. 

At about 6:30 a.m. the following morning, the woman requested medical assistance. Police called Emergency Health Services who transported the woman to the hospital for treatment of a serious injury. 

The IIO has commenced an investigation to determine what role, if any, police actions or inactions may have played in the woman’s injury.

No other information has been released in relation to the October 26th incident.

An investigation by the IIO is underway related to an 
a serious harm case file which is related to events
which began on Park Avenue on October 26

As part of their ongoing investigation, the IIO is asking any person with relevant information or video footage regarding the incident to please contact the Witness Line toll-free at 1-855-446-8477 or via the contact form on the iiobc.ca website. 

The IIO case file information is available here.

The contact form can be accessed from this link.

More notes on files related to Emergency Responders in the Northwest can be reviewed from our archive page.