The death of a man in Cloverdale in 2023 鈥渨as attributable to underlying medical conditions,鈥� a report from the Independent Investigations Office of B.C. (IIO) has concluded.

Surrey Mounties engaged the man at about 7:30 p.m. on July 7, 2023. Mounties had received reports he was rolling around on the road and running into traffic on the Fraser Highway between 194th Street and 195A Street near the Surrey-91原创 border.

鈥淪hortly after police arrived and took the man into custody, the man went into medical distress,鈥� . 鈥� Medical assistance was provided by police, as well as Fire Services and B.C. Ambulance Services, but the man was pronounced deceased a short time later.鈥�

The investigation took more than a year as IIO waited to get back autopsy and toxicology reports. Those reports were only delivered in July 2024. Then the civilian head of IIO had to review them along with other evidence.

According to the release, 鈥淭hose reports confirmed that the man鈥檚 death was attributable to underlying medical conditions.鈥�

Sandra Hentzen, the interim chief civilian director of IIO, reviewed the case evidence that included (along with the autopsy and toxicology reports) statements of two witnesses, CCTV footage from a nearby business, and police files.

Hentzen concluded there was 鈥渘o reasonable grounds to believe that any officer may have committed an offence.鈥�

(Jessica Berglund was named the new chief civilian director of IIO Aug. 9 and is tentatively scheduled to replace Hentzen Sept. 23.)

IIO is a civilian agency that investigates incidents where there is serious injury or death that involves police officers 鈥渨hether or not there is any allegation of wrongdoing.鈥�