File photo.
A Nanaimo RCMP officer has been cleared of any wrongdoing in the arrest of a man who suffered a serious head injury, the province’s police watchdog has ruled.
During the arrest on August 3rd, 2017, a male suspect suffered a broken nose, two broken eye sockets and a traumatic brain injury.
According to the report released Thursday by the Independent Investigations Office, BC Transit reported that a passenger on one of their city buses was intoxicated and assaulting other passengers.
The suspect left the bus, which had stopped near the pub, he was later arrested by two Nanaimo RCMP officers outside the pub.
The report said during the arrest, the man was resistant and hit his head while he was taken to the ground by one officer.
The man who was injured told IIO he has no recollection of interacting with the police or police using force.
He also can’t recall interacting with BC Emergency Health Services, being near the pub or how he got the injuries.
A blood test done soon after the incident indicated the suspect showed an extremely high blood/alcohol concentration.
The IIO found that “the injuries that occurred were unintended.”
It ruled that the matter would not be referred to Crown counsel for consideration of charges.
The IIO investigates all cases of police-involved serious injuries or death.
CHEK News
