The Independent Investigations Office of B.C. is currently looking into an incident involving Port Alberni RCMP officers.
On Feb. 15, a female adult sustained a fractured knee cap during her arrest.
According to the notification by RCMP, officers responded to a complaint involving a female adult. The woman was located walking at the corner of Maitland Street and Eighth Avenue. During the officers’ contact with the woman, they determined that she was the subject of a court order and believed her to be non-compliant with that court order. Based on that, officers arrested her.
Once in custody, she was brought to the RCMP detachment, where she was assessed by B.C. Ambulance Services.
The woman was subsequently admitted to West Coast General Hospital where she was treated for her injuries.
Her medical condition was monitored by RCMP and IIO investigators. As a result of information received on Feb. 22, the IIO has decided to investigate the incident.
IIO strategic projects and public engagement senior manager Owen Court said IIO investigators would be speaking with the RCMP officers, the woman, as well as any witness they find.
“I’m unable to say how long they will be in Port Alberni,” Court said. “It’s too early.”
The IIO was created last October by Victoria to investigate on-and off-duty police-related incidents of death and serious harm.
This is the IIO’s first case in Port Alberni, and its 17th since it started operations.
