The Independent Investigations Office of BC (IIO) is investigating an incident in Quesnel that occurred on Jan 6, 2024 when officers were called out to check on an individual experiencing a mental health emergency.
Police located the individual on Avison Avenue and detained the person under the Mental Health Act.
The individual was taken to a hospital for assessment where it was determined that an injury occurred during the interactions with police.
The IIO was notified in February 2025 after a complaint was filed with the police.
After reviewing the complainant and medical records, the IIO determined that the injury meets the threshold of serious harm.
The Police Act defines serious harm as an injury that may result in death, cause serious disfigurement, or lead to substantial loss or impairment of mobility of the body as a whole or of the function of any limb or organ.
Investigative steps taken by the IIO will seek to confirm details leading up to and including the interaction with the police, as well as whether any force taken by Quesnel RCMP was necessary, proportionate, and justified under the circumstances.
The IIO is asking any person with relevant information about the incident to please contact the witness line toll-free at 1-855-446-8477 or via the contact form on the iiobc.ca website.
