IIO investigating after man injured during arrest in Nanaimo, B.C.
The B.C. police watchdog is asking witnesses to come forward after a man in Nanaimo was injured during an arrest earlier this year.
According to a statement released by the Independent Investigations Office of BC, Nanaimo RCMP officers arrested a man near his home in the Sherwood Forest area at around 12:40 p.m. on April 20.
'There was an interaction between the man and police during the arrest, and the man sustained an injury that appears to have been self-inflicted while being taken into custody,' the statement said.
The man was taken to hospital for treatment for the injury, which has since been deemed as one of serious harm. The investigation will determine what, if any, the connection is between that serious harm and the action or inaction of the officer, the statement said.
The IIO is called in after any police-related incidents that result in death or serious injury, whether or not there are any allegations of wrongdoing.
Any witnesses who have not already provided a statement, or who have video of the incident, are asked to contact the IIO at its Witness Line, toll-free at 1-855-446-8477, or via the contact form on the iiobc.ca website.
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