Police watchdog asks Crown to consider charges after violent Williams Lake arrest

The Independent Investigations Office (IIO)in B.C. has filed a report asking the Crown to consider charges after the violent arrest of an erratic driver near Williams Lake, B.C., last October.

RCMP received reports of an erratic driver near Kamloops, B.C., on Oct. 25, 2020. After failing to stop for police, the suspect led officers on a high-speed chase that ended after two spike belts were deployedthatblew out the suspect's truck tires.

At the time, police say they believed the suspect mighthave hada loaded handgun but when he was arrested police learned that was not the case.

The incident was recorded, and showed the suspect being pursued by a police officer. A secondofficer ran toward the man and appeared to stomp and kick himbefore aiding in the arrest.

Video shows RCMP officer stomping suspect during arrest

4 years ago

Duration 1:30

This video of an arrest by Williams Lake RCMP has resulted in an internal investigation into the action of the officer.

The IIO report says that the injuries the man sustained didnot qualify as serious harm as defined by the Police Actbut given the significant public scrutiny generated by video of the arrest, it undertook a review.

Chief Civilian Director Ronald J. MacDonald determined that there are reasonable groundsto believe that one of the officers may have committed an offence in relation to the use of force during the arrest.

The B.C.Prosecution Service says itapproves charges in cases where there is a reasonable prospect ofconviction based onthe evidenceand where such a prosecutionwould be in the public interest.