IIO investigating Taser death of Chilliwack man during alleged parental child abduction

The Independent Investigations Office (IIO) is looking into the death of a Chilliwack man following reports of a parental child abduction.

RCMP say they responded to a report of a father who tried to leave with his child during a supervised visit on Saturday afternoon.

A member of the public tried to restrain the man near the intersection of Vedder Road and Well Road in Chilliwack.

Officers responding to the call deployed a Taser. The man suffered a medical emergency and later died.

IIO Chief Civilian Director Ron MacDonald said it’s still early in the investigation, but it does not appear that the man had any weapons on him.

He also said authorities are still trying to determine if the Taser had anything to do with the man’s death.

Investigators have been at the scene obtaining evidence, reviewing available surveillance camera footage, and interviewing both civilian witnesses and police officers.

Anyone with information on this incident is asked to call the IIO at 1-855-446-8477.

The IIO investigates all incidents involving police officers that result in serious injury or death.

— With files from Michelle Morton and The Canadian Press