Serious injuries a young person suffered after being arrested in Nelson, B.C., last month were not caused by police, a provincial watchdog has determined. The youth was taken into Nelson Police Department custody on the night of Aug. 11, and was injured at some point after arriving in the cells. Paramedics took him to hospital, where he was treated then released to his parents. The Independent Investigations Office has since reviewed the circumstances of the incident and cleared police of wrongdoing. In a news release Tuesday, the watchdog said evidence collected by its investigators—including “police and jail records, radio calls, video footage and medical evidence”—turned up no connection between the youth’s injuries and the actions or inactions of officers. The IIO would not release any further details on how the youth ended up hurt, but told CTV News his injuries were not related to any use of force by police. When the watchdog launched its investigation in August, it alleged the young person “appeared intoxicated and became unco-operative” when interacting with an officer in a Nelson laneway on the night of his arrest. The IIO is tasked with investigating all officer-related incidents that result in death or serious harm, regardless of whether there’s an allegation of wrongdoing against police. Investigations are concluded if the watchdog determines injuries do not meet the threshold for serious harm, or had no connection to law enforcement.
