No charges are being recommended against a Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer in Ladysmith, British Columbia after a police dog seriously injured a person during an arrest.
The Independent Investigations Office of British Columbia referred the case, stemming from a 2021 incident, to the BC Prosecution Service to consider charges but has since withdrawn the referral.
A final report released March 4 said significant evidence gaps and additional investigative steps led investigators to conclude there are no reasonable grounds to believe the officer committed an offence.
The investigation began after an officer attempted a traffic stop on Highway 1, British Columbia in Ladysmith and a police vehicle collided with a minivan driven by the suspect.
According to the report, the officer followed the minivan because it had a stolen licence plate. The driver accelerated and dashcam footage showed “forceful maneuvers” between the suspect’s vehicle and the officer’s vehicle.
After the minivan struck a concrete barrier on the highway, the driver attempted to free the vehicle after it became pinned by police vehicles.
The IIO said investigators did not receive statements from either the driver of the minivan or the officer who was the subject of the investigation, making it difficult to fully understand the events leading up to the injury.
The report said the officer was a dog handler and the police dog was not on a leash. The dog bit an officer before pulling the driver from the minivan. It then bit the person’s leg while another officer went to retrieve a leash, causing serious injuries.
The report said a witness officer told investigators the handler was shouting and pulling at the dog for two or three minutes as it continued biting the suspect while another officer retrieved a leash.
The IIO does not require officers under investigation to provide evidence and said the officer did not provide an explanation of his actions during the incident. Investigators also did not receive an account from the injured person despite visiting him in hospital and attempting a follow up interview.
