B.C.’s police watchdog is investigating after RCMP in Parksville responded to a report of a man lying in brush, were unable to find him, then were called back to the same spot the next day to find him deceased.
The RCMP told the Independent Investigations Office (IIO) of BC that officers were first called around 12:05 p.m. Sunday, March 24, after a witness saw a man lying in the brush away from a marked trail near Little Mountain.
The 4.2-kilometre out-and-back trial, south of Parksville, is a popular hiking route, according to tourism groups.
Mounties searched the area but were unable to locate him, the IIO said in a news release.
Around 11:12 a.m. Monday, March 25, the same witness returned to the area, where they found the man’s body in the same location as previously reported.
Police and paramedics with Emergency Health Services then attended the scene and confirmed the man was dead.
The IIO was notified the same day and has since launched an investigation.
“Initial investigative steps will seek to confirm the details surrounding the initial police search, what caused the man’s death and whether police action or inaction were contributing factors,” it said in the release Wednesday.
The IIO, the independent civilian oversight agency of police in B.C., investigates all officer-related incidents that result in serious harm or death, whether or not there is any allegation of wrongdoing.
The agency is asking anyone with information about the incident in Parksville, including video, to contact its witness line toll-free at 1-855-446-8477 or via the contact form on its website.
Ethan Morneau
