The office that investigates use of force by police officers in B.C. has been deployed to Saanich after an arrest Friday night. The Saanich Police Department told the Independent Investigations Office of B.C. that its officers were called about a possible assault at a home on Woodhall Drive shortly after 10 p.m. The heavily armed Greater Victoria Emergency Response Team was also deployed, according to a Saturday statement from the IIO. “Police entered into negotiations and contained the area for several hours before the man exited the residence and was taken into custody,” the statement reads, adding that officers deployed “less-lethal use of force weapons and a police service dog in the process.” The man was taken to hospital after his arrest, the IIO said. It was notified of the incident a short time later and began its investigation. The office will now work to determine if any of the man’s injuries meet the threshold for “serious harm,” as defined under the provincial Police Act. If serious harm is established, the IIO will consider whether there is a connection between the harm and the actions or inaction of police officers. “If both conditions are met, the investigation will continue to examine all available evidence to determine what occurred,” the IIO said in its statement. “At the conclusion of the investigation, the chief civilian director will consider whether there are reasonable grounds to believe that an offence may have occurred.” The IIO is tasked with investigating all incidents involving police officers in B.C. that result in serious harm or death to a member of the public, regardless of whether there is any allegation of wrongdoing on the part of police. Anyone who witnessed Friday’s arrest or has information about the incident is asked to call the IIO witness line at 1-855-446-8477 or to fill out the contact form on the IIO’s website.
