The Independent Investigations Office of BC (IIO) is reaching out for witnesses related to the passing of an elderly Port Alberni man.
According to the IIO, an 83-year-old man was found deceased in his vehicle submerged in Sproat Lake, near the 10700-block of Lakeshore Road.
The IIO has been tasked with probing the circumstances surrounding his death.
The sequence of events began unfolding on December 13th, when RCMP responded to a report expressing concern for the well-being of Brian Watkins who had dementia. He was seen driving a green Pontiac Sunfire around 6:45 p.m. that day.
An officer encountered and spoke with Watkins approximately two hours later, at 8:40 p.m.
Following this interaction, at approximately 10:25 p.m., another call was received as the man had not returned home—prompting them to search for him again.
Tragically, on December 15th, the man was discovered deceased inside his vehicle, which was submerged in Sproat Lake.
Following the discovery, the IIO was promptly notified. The police watchdog stated that its investigation will examine the specifics of Watkins’ interaction with the officer and his subsequent whereabouts.
In an effort to gather pertinent information for their investigation, the IIO has appealed to the public for any sightings or observations of the green Pontiac Sunfire between the timeframes of 8:45 p.m. on December 13th and 12 p.m. on December 15th.
Witnesses or individuals with information are asked to reach out to the IIO through their witness line at 1-855-446-8477 or via the contact form on the iiobc.ca website.
