Man not seriously injured during Surrey arrest, police watchdog finds

Investigators from B.C.'s Independent Investigations Office are seen in this file photo from the IIO.

June 10, 2025 update: B.C.’s police watchdog has concluded its investigating after determining the man’s injuries do not meet the threshold for “serious harm” under the province’s Police Act.

Previous story: A man was injured during a Mental Health Act arrest in Surrey, B.C., earlier this month, prompting an investigation by the province’s police watchdog.

The Independent Investigations Office of B.C. said the incident happened on the afternoon of May 9, while members of the Surrey RCMP Provincial Operations Support Unit were responding to a “disturbance call” at a residential building near 34 Avenue and 152 Street.

“After arriving, officers located one man who had reportedly been in possession of a weapon and moved to detain him under the Mental Health Act,” the IIO said in a news release Wednesday.

“The man suffered injuries during the arrest process and was then taken to a hospital for treatment.”

The watchdog didn’t learn of the incident until May 21, when it was notified by the Surrey Police Service.

It’s unclear what led to the delay. An SPS spokesperson declined to comment when contacted by CTV News.

An IIO spokesperson said these types of delays are typically the result of police being unaware of the severity of a person’s injuries.

“Whether that was the case in this instance will be determined during the IIO investigation,” the spokesperson told CTV News, in an email.

The IIO only investigates officer-involved incidents that result in death or serious harm, which includes injuries that cause serious disfigurement or disabilities.

The watchdog is tasked with investigating those incidents whether or not there is any allegation of wrongdoing on the part of police.