The provincial police watchdog may weigh in after a crash early Sunday (Jan. 12) morning that may have involved VicPD.
Victoria police said officers spotted a vehicle being driven on the wrong side of the road near the intersection of Tyee and Esquimalt roads. Officers activated “police vehicle emergency equipment,” according to a social media post.
Though the department does not clarify which equipment, that can commonly include flashing red and blue lights as well as sirens.
“The vehicle failed to stop, officers were in the process of deactivating the vehicle emergency equipment when the suspect vehicle crashed around the corner,” the post reads.
The driver and passenger sustained minor injuries in the single-vehicle crash and the Independent Investigations Office (IIO) of B.C. was notified to determine if police action contributed to the crash.
The IIO is a civilian-led police oversight agency that conducts investigations into incidents of death or serious harm that may have been the result of the actions or inactions of a police officer.
"Initial investigative steps will seek to confirm if the injuries of the two people in the sedan meet the definition of serious harm, as defined by the Police Act. If serious harm is established, further investigation will examine whether the officer’s actions during the arrest were necessary, reasonable, and proportionate in the circumstances," a Jan. 14 IIO release stated.
The organization asks any witnesses or those with camera footage who they have not spoken with to contact the witness line toll free at 1-855-446-8477 or via the contact form at iiobc.ca.
