Burnaby RCMP cleared of any wrongdoing in 2022 death

The Independent Investigations Office (IIO) says it has cleared Burnaby RCMP officers of any wrongdoing in an arrest last year that ended with the death of a man.

According to the IIO, the man had several pre-existing conditions on Dec. 16, 2022.

Investigators say Mounties were called to the Starbucks in Kensington Plaza to assist with a man “who was said to be overdosing.”

The man, who reportedly had sweat dripping down his face and dried blood coming from his nose,” asked a woman at the coffee shop to call police.

After calling for help, the woman reported that the man had “suddenly grabbed her hand and held it, saying repeatedly that he was ‘so scared.'”

When first responders arrived, the IIO says firefighters recognized the man from previous interactions, some of them drug-related. The office notes crews had difficulties assessing the man, “who appeared scared and paranoid, saying they did not believe they were real firefighters.”

“He was still requesting police, as he thought someone was following him and trying to kill him,” the IIO writes, adding police were called shortly after due to concerns he might become aggressive.

When the RCMP arrived, the IIO says the man was still frightened and suspicious of the first responders. He was taken into custody about an hour after they got there, only to go into cardiac arrest that paramedics couldn’t reverse.

The police watchdog report found the man was not hit or pinned by any of the officers while being handcuffed and ruled that the stress of the incident — along with the man’s pre-existing conditions — likely contributed to his death.