Police watchdog still investigating after man hospitalized following arrest

Eight months after a suspect went into medical distress after being arrested in Port Coquitlam, the investigation is continuing, according to the Independent Investigations Office of B.C.

Police headed to the 1800-block of Coquitlam Avenue at about 6:30 a.m. on Nov. 20, 2025 to investigate an assault. After finding a man and woman in the house, Coquitlam RCMP attempted to arrest the man, “leading to an interaction between him and officers,” according to a release from the IIO.

The man went into medical distress and was eventually rushed to hospital in serious condition.

The IIO started investigating on Nov. 27, 2025 in an effort to determine if police action or inaction led to the suspect suffering serious injury.

After reviewing evidence including medical records, the IIO: “determined there is a connection to officer action or inaction” in this case, according to a prior release.

In addition to interviewing more witnesses, investigators are now gathering evidence including additional medical reports, according to a release from IIO.

Asked about the lengthy investigation, an IIO spokesperson stated that each incident is unique.

“The amount of time it will take to complete an investigation will depend on many factors including the size and location of the scene, the number of involved officers, the number of civilian witnesses, and the need for and dependence on specialized reports, including third party expert opinions,” stated IIO media liaison Rachel Graham.

Following the investigation, the IIO’s director will consider if there are reasonable grounds to suspect an offence may have occurred.

Anyone with information on the case is asked to contact IIO at 1-855-446-8477 or through the agency’s website.