West Van police investigating another RCMP arrest
The West Vancouver police have launched their second criminal probe of the RCMP in as many months, this time investigating injuries a woman sustained while under arrest by Mounties in Burnaby.
The West Van department is revealing few details about their investigation other than to say that several officers are looking into the Aug. 22 arrest.
At the time, the woman was being apprehended by officers under the Mental Health Act. West Van police would not confirm the nature of her injuries Tuesday.
The department is still investigating an RCMP arrest last month in Williams Lake that left a man in hospital at least one week later. No update on his condition or the progress of the investigation has been given by the West Van police since that time.
That incident occurred on July 21, when at least one Mountie from Quesnel — approximately 100 kilometres north of Williams Lake — pursued a suspect vehicle into the Williams Lake area.
A 35-year-old occupant of the suspect vehicle was apprehended and during his arrest suffered injuries that left him in hospital as of July 27.
West Vancouver police would not say whether the officer under investigation was with the Quesnel or the Williams Lake RCMP detachment. Neither would the department confirm the nature of the man’s injuries nor the crime he was suspected of committing at the time of his arrest.
Both the Williams Lake and Burnaby investigations would be completed in a “fair, transparent and timely manner,” according to West Van police press releases following each incident.
As one of the few independent municipal police forces in the province, the West Van police are often called upon to investigate when a Mountie is suspected of a crime, in order to avoid the perception of a pro-RCMP bias.
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