The Independent Investigations Office of B.C. has dropped its preliminary probe into an arrest of two suspects by Nanaimo RCMP that resulted in bites from a police dog.
The investigation was initiated shortly after the incident in the early morning of April 27 after a man and a woman, allegedly running from a stolen vehicle, were both injured by a police dog during the arrest. The 23-year-old female suspect was treated at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital and released, but the male suspect, 34, received more serious bites.
Investigations office staff determined that although the incident was police related, the injuries were not severe enough to be defined as serious harm under the Police Act.
“Serious harm” under the Police Act is any injury that might result in death, might cause serious disfigurement, or cause substantial loss or impairment of mobility of the body as a whole or of the function of any limb or organ.
Nanaimo RCMP’s investigation into the suspects is ongoing. They are scheduled to appear separately in Nanaimo provincial court Tuesday (May 7) and May 14 to face charges relating to theft of a motor vehicle, possession of break-in tools, possession of stolen property under $5,000.