Police watchdog investigating ‘serious’ injury during arrest near Victoria

The Independent Investigations Office of B.C. responds to a scene in an undated file photo.

British Columbia’s police watchdog is investigating after a man was seriously injured while being arrested near Victoria.

The Independent Investigations Office of B.C. says officers with the Victoria Police Department responded to a report of a man with a weapon at a home on Dominion Road in Esquimalt at around 5:30 p.m. on Oct. 9.

Police took the man into custody with the assistance of a police dog, the IIO said in a statement Wednesday.

The suspect “sustained a serious but not life-threatening injury while being arrested and was taken to a hospital for treatment,” the statement said.

The police oversight agency is now working to determine whether the man’s injuries meet the criteria for “serious harm,” and, if so, whether there is a connection between the injuries and the actions or inactions of police.

Under the provincial Police Act, “serious harm” is defined as an injury that may result in death, disfigurement or loss of function of a limb or organ.

If both of those conditions are met, the IIO will examine all available evidence to determine whether or not there exist reasonable grounds to believe that an offence occurred.

If reasonable grounds are found, the agency’s chief civilian director will recommend the provincial prosecution service approve charges against the police.

The IIO is asking anyone who witnessed the arrest or who has images related to the incident to contact investigators.

The IIO investigates all police-related incidents that result in serious harm or death in B.C., whether or not there is any allegation of wrongdoing by police.