The Independent Investigations Office of BC has recommended charges in relation to an incident near Ladysmith last year.
The province’s civilian police watchdog has filed a report with the BC Prosecution Service for consideration of charges against an officer who attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a white Pontiac Montana van in the 100 block of Highway 1 on April 17th, 2021.
The van didn’t stop and the officers used their vehicle to halt the van.
A police service dog was used to subdue the driver into custody, and he sustained serious dog-bite related injuries and was transported to hospital.
Ronald MacDonald, the IIO’s chief civilian director, said he reviewed the evidence and determined there were reasonable grounds to believe one officer may have committed an offence in relation to their driving and the use of a police service dog.
The charges have only been recommended at this point and the BC Prosecution Service will weigh the likelihood of conviction based on evidence gathered by the IIO before approving them.
“In order to approve any charges, the BC Prosecution Service must be satisfied that there is a substantial likelihood of conviction based on the evidence gathered by the IIO, and that prosecution be required in the public interest,” the IIO says in a statement on its website.
The IIO is the independent civilian oversight agency of police in the province.
