Man dies in Vancouver police custody; watchdog called in

CTV News

7 days ago

Investigators from B.C.'s Independent Investigations Office are seen in this file photo from the IIO.
A man who was arrested by the Vancouver police died in custody Wednesday, according to the department and B.C.'s police watchdog.
The 49-year-old man was taken from police cells to hospital around 10 a.m. after 'suffering an apparent medical emergency,' a news release from the Vancouver Police Department said.
'The man received medical attention at the jail and was transported to hospital, where he died,' the statement continued, adding that the Independent Investigations Office was notified of the 'sudden death.'
The IIO, in a statement of its own, said the man was arrested around 4 a.m. the same morning and transported to the VPD jail, where he arrived around 4:30 a.m.
'The man was taken to a cell, but later found unresponsive,' the IIO said.
Neither agency said what the man was arrested for.
The provincial watchdog will investigate if there is any connection between police action or inaction and the man's death, which it is mandated to do whether or not there are allegations of wrongdoing.
The IIO's mandate does not currently allow it to probe the actions of jail guards who are not sworn officers – but that will change later this year as a result of amendments to the province's Police Act.