The Independent Independent Investigations Office (IIO) of BC is investigating after a man died in Victoria Police custody.
In a statement released Monday, the police watchdog outlined an incident on November 20 in which Victoria Police officers attended reports of a man allegedly causing a disturbance in the 600 block of Douglas Street at around 1:45 a.m.
When police arrived, they arrested the man after he was medically cleared by Emergency Health Services. The man was transported to cells to be held in custody.
A short while later, at 4:15 a.m., the man appeared the be in medical distress while in cells.
Paramedics were called and they transported him to a local hospital.
On November 22, police were told that the man had died in hospital. That is when IIO, the civilian oversight agency was notified of the incident.
The IIO will investigate to determine what role, if any, police actions or inaction played in the death.
