B.C.’s police watchdog has been called in to investigate after an officer shot a man following a traffic stop in Penticton, B.C. Saturday.
The incident unfolded shortly after 4 p.m. when Mounties attempted to conduct a traffic stop near the intersection of Green Mountain Road and Sumac Court, following reports the man inside the vehicle was in possession of a weapon, said the Independent Investigations Office of B.C. Sunday.
The Independent Investigations Office of B.C. looks into all incidents involving police officers in the province that result in death or serious injury to a member of the public.
According to the statement, the man fled the vehicle, after which an “interaction” took place involving an officer discharging their firearm. The man suffered gunshot injuries and was taken to hospital.
“Investigative steps will seek to confirm what happened leading up to and during the man’s interaction with police, and whether any action taken may have been necessary, reasonable, and proportionate during the circumstances,” the police watchdog said.
