Police watchdog investigating after suspected armed robber found dead near Lake Cowichan, B.C.

British Columbia's police watchdog is investigating after a man suspected of committing an armed robbery near Duncan, B.C, was later found dead near Lake Cowichan, B.C.
The Independent Investigations Office of B.C. (IIO) says it is looking to determine what role, if any, police actions or inactions may have played in the man's death.
Mounties from the North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP detachment responded to a report of an armed robbery at a business north of Duncan around 2:30 p.m. Tuesday.
The alleged robber was reportedly driving a black Toyota Tacoma pickup truck, which was later identified driving through Duncan before police lost track of it around 3 p.m.
The Island District RCMP Emergency Response Team located the truck an hour later parked in an eastbound lane along Highway 18, approximately five kilometres east of Lake Cowichan, according to information provided by both the RCMP and the IIO on Wednesday.
Responding officers saw no movement inside the truck before they approached at 4:45 p.m. and found one man dead from what police say appeared to be self-inflicted wounds.
Anyone with information or video footage relevant to the incident is asked to call the IIO witness line at 1-855-446-8477 or contact the agency via the iiobc.ca website.
The RCMP said it would not release any further information on the incident while the IIO investigation is ongoing.
The IIO is tasked with investigating all police officer-related incidents in B.C. that result in death or serious injury to a member of the public, regardless of whether there is any allegation of police wrongdoing.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING | Liberals withdraw controversial amendment to guns bill
The federal Liberals are withdrawing an amendment to their guns bill that introduced a controversial new definition of an assault-style weapon.

NORAD tracking high-altitude surveillance balloon detected over the U.S., Canada says
The Department of National Defence says Canada is working with the United States to protect sensitive information from foreign intelligence threats after a high-altitude surveillance balloon was detected.
'Made-in-Canada system' keeps egg supply stable. But is it also keeping prices high?
Canada's egg industry appears to be quietly sidestepping widespread shortages and wildly spiking prices affecting other countries, and some say supply management is to thank.
Migrant workers sneak secret menus into Canadian restaurants to expose exploitation
Hundreds of customers who scan QR codes for restaurant menus across Canada are being surprised by secret menus instead, revealing the hidden costs behind the food they eat.
Most of Ontario under extreme cold warning, Arctic blast brings biting chills
Most of Ontario is under an extreme cold warning as a blast of Arctic air delivers biting wind chills.
Could the fungal outbreak in The Last of Us happen for real?
The post-apocalyptic TV adaptation of the video game The Last of Us has some wondering about the real-life possibility of a global pandemic caused by fungus, and one expert says it’s not a concept to dismiss.
B.C. premier approaching health care talks without 'any red lines'
British Columbia Premier David Eby says he's going into next week's health-care meeting between the premiers and prime minister with an open mind — and without a red line dollar ask for the federal government.
Senate passes Liberals' controversial online streaming act with a dozen amendments
Big tech companies that offer online streaming services could soon be required to contribute to Canadian content as a controversial Liberal bill gets one step closer to becoming law.
China: Balloon over U.S. skies is for research, wind pushed it
China said Friday that a balloon spotted over American airspace was used for weather research and was blown off course, despite U.S. suspicion it was spying. The discovery further strained already tense relations between Beijing and Washington.