In custody death

Photo: Contributed

The Independent Investigations Office of British Columbia has been notified after a man was found unresponsive while lodged in a Kelowna RCMP cell.

On March 31 at approximately 5:15 p.m., officers were called to a single vehicle off-road collision with a tree on McCulloch Road.

Upon attendance, police initiated a criminal investigation and transported the 40-year-old driver to the Kelowna detachment. The man was subsequently transported to local hospital after complaining of pain.  

The man was medically cleared by hospital staff and he was booked into a cell at 11:25 p.m. 

On April 1 at 2:11 p.m. the man was found unresponsive.

The assistance of Emergency Health Services was requested and RCMP members initiated CPR.

Upon arrival, health services took over resuscitation efforts and the man was pronounced deceased shortly before 2:40 p.m.

IIO BC was notified and they will now investigate if there is a connection between the man's death and the actions of police.

The RCMP has also initiated an independent officer review of the incident as per existing policies. 

Given the matter is now under investigation by the IIO BC, no further information is being released by police at this time.