WHITE ROCK — The Whalley-based Independent Investigations Office is investigating an in-custody death after a 58-year-old woman died in a White Rock RCMP cell on Tuesday morning.
The deceased, whose name has not yet been released, was arrested last Friday on an outstanding warrant and was scheduled to appear in Surrey provincial court on Tuesday. She was examined by Emergency Health Services at 7 a.m., at the RCMP’s request, and at 10:38 a.m. a cell guard found her lying on the floor, unresponsive. She could not be revived.
The IIO was set up in September 2012 with the aim of keeping B.C. police officers accountable in cases involving in-custody deaths and serious injuries. Its spokesman, Marten Youssef, said the IIO will try to determine if there’s a connection between her death “and actions and inactions” of the officers.
B.C. Coroner Service spokeswoman Barbara McLintock said the deceased’s name won’t be released until all of her family is notified.
