IIO investigating fatal roadside incident near Merritt last week

BC’s police watchdog is investigating an incident near Merritt last week that resulted in a man losing his life.

In a news release issued Tuesday (April 7), the Independent Investigations Office of BC (IIO) says the incident began at about 9:30 p.m. last Thursday, along Highway 97C near Iron Mountain Road south of Merritt.

The IIO says an RCMP officer came across a vehicle parked at the side of the road with a man inside. The officer reported the man had a gun.

Around the same time, a caller alerted police that they were concerned for a family member who was believed to be in the area.

More officers arrived on scene, including members of the Emergency Response Team, who contained the area.

Once they were in place, they used remote equipment and determined the man had sustained a gunshot wound, believed to be self-inflicted. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The investigation has been turned over to the IIO, who will work to determine if the action or inaction of the RCMP played a part in the man’s death.

Anyone who witnessed any portion of the incident is asked to contact the IIO witness line at 1 (855) 446-8477 or by using the contact form on the IIO’s website.