B.C.’s police watchdog is investigating an incident in Sooke in which one man died.
The Independent Investigations Office of B.C., the province’s independent civilian oversight agency, is investigating the interactions between police and the man. The IIO investigates all officer-related incidents that result in serious harm or death.
The office said Sooke RCMP were called to a residence on Kemp Lake Road about 1:50 p.m. Tuesday by a male who “appeared to be in emotional distress.” The man was later found deceased.
RCMP told the Times Colonist that the death was not believed to be criminal in nature.
Otter Point assistant fire chief Ben Patterson said that firefighters and B.C. Ambulance paramedics were on scene for about two hours to provide medical aid support if needed.
“It was a large police presence, for sure,” Patterson said, adding that police were “pretty tight-lipped.”
A local man who lives on Broom Hill Road said he was turned back by a police blockade “of a dozen RCMP cars” at Kemp Lake and Milligan roads.
“They had about a dozen RCMP cars crossing the roads with all their lights flashing,” said Ray, who declined to give his last name.
Ray said that police were walking up to a residence opposite Milligan Road on Kemp Lake Road, and that two camouflaged police officers walked into the woods about 100 metres away.
“The cop said they had a person that was barricaded in the house with a weapon.”
IIO is now taking steps to confirm the details of the interaction between the man and police.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact IIO at 1-855-446-8477 or through the contact form at iiobc.ca.
— With a file from Darron Kloster
