B.C.’s police watchdog is investigating the death of a man in Mission while in the custody of the Abbotsford Police Department (APD).
According to news releases from APD and the Independent Investigations Office of BC (IIO), police stopped a vehicle believed to be stolen at the Junction Shopping Centre in Mission on Sunday (Feb. 9).
APD says patrol officers saw a suspicious vehicle in the Abbotsford area at roughly 1:45 p.m. and followed it into Mission where they stopped it.
One occupant was arrested and taken to a police vehicle where he went into medical distress, per APD. IIO said Emergency Health Services were called and took the man to a hospital for treatment, where he was pronounced dead.
The APD notified IIO shortly after and the watchdog is now leading the investigation.
"Initial investigative steps will determine if there was any connection between police actions and the man’s death, and if any force used during the arrest was necessary, reasonable, and proportionate under the circumstances," IIO said.
Those with information are urged to contact the IIO witness line at 1-855-446-8477.
