IIO Investigating After Death While In RCMP Custody In Campbell River

British Columbia's police watchdog is investigating after a man suffered medical distress while in RCMP custody in Campbell River and later died.

British Columbia's police watchdog is investigating after a man suffered medical distress while in RCMP custody in Campbell River and later died.

Mounties say the man was arrested at approximately 10:45 a.m. Thursday for a breach of his probation and was held in custody at the Campbell River detachment.

An on-duty guard found the man unresponsive and in medical distress at around 11 p.m.

Officers provided first aid until emergency health services arrived and took over. He was transported to hospital but later died.

The Independent Investigations Office has been notified and is investigating whether police actions contributed to the death, the RCMP said.

The B.C. RCMP said it will not make any further comments about the case, citing the IIO investigation.

An IIO investigation into the actions of the Campbell River RCMP was already underway after an incident last week in which two people died, including one man killed in an officer-involved shooting.

The IIO is asking witnesses to the incident to contact its reporting line at 1-855-446-8477 or via the IIOBC website at https://iiobc.ca/