The province’s police watchdog says officers are not responsible for the harm to a man suspected of crashing a Jeep into a police vehicle in Vancouver’s West End last week.
The Independent Investigations Office of BC (IIO) says it has completed its investigation after the dramatic incident on Friday, May 15.
The Vancouver Police Department (VPD) says the incident was first reported around 5:30 a.m., when the driver of a Jeep was seen acting erratically near Comox and Broughton streets, allegedly crashing into fences and plants in the Nelson Park dog area.
“Several witnesses nearby had to scramble to get out of the way of the suspect’s vehicle,” a police statement described.
The VPD says the driver then struck a senior who was riding a motorized mobility scooter, and finally came to a stop after crashing into a responding police vehicle.
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Const. Darren Wong says the final crash destroyed the police vehicle and flipped the suspect’s vehicle on its side.
“The suspect was trapped inside the vehicle and arrested near Comox and Bute streets,” said Wong.
“Multiple ambulances responded along with Vancouver Fire Rescue Services, who were able to free the man from the wreckage.”
The man was then arrested and taken to hospital for assessment and treatment.
The IIO says it began investigating later that day.
“The chief civilian director has now reviewed the medical evidence collected by IIO investigators and has determined that the man’s injuries do not meet the threshold of serious harm, as defined by the Police Act.”
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On Tuesday, police shared that the BC Prosecution Service had charged a 34-year-old suspect with four counts of dangerous operation of a vehicle.
By the last update, the VPD said the suspect remains in custody, while the senior citizen remains in serious condition in hospital.
Two officers were reportedly released from hospital on the day of the incident.