IIO finds police not responsible for recent death in Prince George

PRINCE GEORGE- The Independent Investigations Office (IIO) of BC has concluded an investigation into a death in Prince George on December 8, after a failed traffic stop.

Shortly before 11:30 pm on December 7, officers conducting an ongoing investigation observed a red Dodge Caravan leaving a residence. When officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop, the male driver of the Caravan fled southbound on Highway 97. RCMP did not pursue the driver, but they did try to follow the tire tracks in the fresh snow for about 30 minutes before the trail was lost.

Hours later on December 8 at 12:30 am, a report was made from a civilian who spoke to a man in a red Caravan that was pulled off on the side of the road at McKelvie Road near Highway 97 in Hixon. The person said the man admitted that he was hiding from police before departing. The civilian then drove around to look for the vehicle and spotted it on Sleepy Hollow Road but later lost sight of it. The vehicle matched the description of the van police had attempted to stop earlier in the evening.

Later that morning between 1:55 am and 2:35 am, the RCMP received several calls about a male pedestrian in the southbound lane of Highway 97, south of Widdis Road. Police responded to the report around 2:45 am and found a deceased male. A red Caravan was located a short distance from where the male was found.