Kamloops cops cleared in October arrest

No police officer will be charged after the province's police watchdog investigated an hours-long standoff and arrest in Kamloops last week.

A man seriously injured himself just before he was taken into custody, the Independent Investigations Office of B.C. concluded today, Nov. 1, meaning there was no wrongdoing by police.

Police were called to the 2000-block of Pacific Way around 4 p.m., Oct. 24, where they tried to negotiate with the man until he was subdued around 8:35 p.m. He was reported to be behaving erratically while carrying a weapon, according to an Oct. 25 news release.

“When officers attended his residence, the man came outside, holding a weapon and yelled obscenities at police,” an RCMP news release on Oct. 25 read.

Just before his arrest, the man injured himself, according to the Independent Investigations Office of B.C.

Paramedics took him to the hospital that night.

The oversight agency investigated medical records and spoke with a civilian witness to confirm the only injury the man sustained that could have amounted to "serious harm" under the Police Act was self-inflicted.

The Independent Investigations Office won't be recommending a police officer be charged.

Neither RCMP nor the Independent Investigations Office said what kind of weapon the man was holding. It's also unclear whether he used his own weapon to injure himself or some other means.

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