The Independent Investigations Office (IIO BC) is recommending charges against three Kamloops RCMP officers.

It’s after an investigation into a police chase involving an unmarked police cruiser and a stolen truck from Dec. 8, 2018, which left the driver of the truck with non-life threatening injuries.

“Initial information provided by the RCMP to the IIO was that a collision had occurred between an unmarked police car and a stolen pickup truck at approximately 12:30 a.m. at Grasslands Boulevard and Westsyde Road,” said IIO Chief Civilian Officer Ron MacDonald. “The RCMP reported that previous attempts to stop the truck had been unsuccessful. During the arrest, the driver suffered injuries.”

MacDonald says there are reasonable grounds to believe that officers ‘committed offences.’

“As a result, the IIO has forwarded a report to the BC Prosecution Service for consideration of potential charges related to assault respecting one officer, and charges related to criminal code and motor vehicle act driving offences in relation to the actions of all three officers,” he added.

In order for the charges to be approved, the BC Prosecution Service has to be satisfied that there is a ‘substantial likelihood’ of conviction based on the evidence gathered, and that the prosecution is required in the public interest.

MacDonald added the man who was driving the stolen truck was charged as a result of the incident and says that matter is still before the courts.