B.C.’s police watchdog is investigating an arrest in Vancouver last week that left a man injured and in need of surgery. The man was believed to be involved in a reported break-in at a trailer in Gastown that the Vancouver Police Department was responding to around 5 a.m. on Sept. 4, the Independent Investigations Office of B.C. said in a statement Thursday. Officers deployed a police dog while trying to arrest the suspect, who suffered injuries as a result, according to the IIO. “He was then taken by ambulance to a hospital for assessment and treatment, where it was determined he would require surgery,” reads the statement. The IIO is asking anyone who witnessed the arrest or has further information about it to contact investigators at 1-855-446-8477 or through the iiobc.ca website. The watchdog investigates all police-related incidents in B.C. involving death or serious harm, regardless of whether there is an allegation of wrongdoing by officers. “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 statement explained.
