By Dominic Abassi

Police watchdog probes Nanaimo arrest which sent suspect to hospital

Aug 4, 2017 | 5:44 PM

NANAIMO — British Columbia’s police watchdog is investigating after a man was injured during an arrest in Nanaimo.

The Independent Investigations Office (IIO) has sent two members to Nanaimo to determine what role, if any, RCMP played in the injuries the man sustained.

Cpl. Janelle Shoihet told NanaimoNewsNOW a Nanaimo RCMP officer responded to a call around 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 3 about a man allegedly threatening passengers and inappropriately touching women on a bus. Officers found the man on Bowen Rd., in the area of the Quarterway Pub and Bowen Sports Field.

“In an attempt to arrest the male, the male resisted and the incident ended up with the male on the ground,” Shoihet said. “The injuries were as a result of hitting the ground and a head injury.”

Shoihet said the man was taken to Nanaimo Hospital with “possibly life threatening injuries” and then transferred to a larger hospital. His condition is now considered stable, she said. The officer was not injured.

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The IIO’s Marten Youssef said their members are now trying to determine if the injuries meet the threshold to be considered serious harm and if there is a connection between those injuries and the actions of police.

“At this point, the RCMP are saying the male collapsed. So we’re looking at this to determine the level of injuries…There has to be that connection between the actions of police and the injuries of the male.”

Shoihet said Mounties will continue their own investigation into the allegations of threats and sexual assault against the man.

The IIO is mandated to conduct investigations into officer-related incidents of death or serious harm in order to determine whether or not an officer may have committed an offence.

Previously, the agency probed an incident in Nanaimo where a man was found dead in January of this year, however no link was found to the actions of police. An IIO investigation into a fatal police-involved shooting in June 2016 continues.

Any witnesses to Thursday’s incident are urged to call the IIO, RCMP or Crime Stoppers.

— With files from Spencer Sterritt

dom@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @domabassi