File of of investigators with the Independent Investigations Office of B.C.
Files / PNG
B.C.’s police watchdog is investigating after a man was shot dead Sunday in an officer-involved shooting in Maple Ridge.The Independent Investigations Office of B.C. said officers responded to a reported domestic incident around 1:10 p.m. in the 12400-block Colemore Street in Maple Ridge.“Officers entered the residence and located three individuals, one of which had a knife,” said the IIO B.C. in a statement late Sunday. “During the course of the interaction a conducted energy weapon was deployed but was not successful, and another police officer fired their gun.”Emergency Health Services personnel were on scene and immediately came to the man’s aid, but he was pronounced dead in the home, said IIO spokeswoman Dawn Roberts.Neighbour Bruce Main said paramedics and police responded to a home across the street occupied by a man with a mental illness.“He went off his meds and they called the ambulance,” he said. “The paramedics came. One of the medics, apparently she got cut up, and police were there, and one of the policemen’s vest was cut, too.”Main said he heard three shots ring out in the otherwise quiet neighbourhood.Neighbours said an older couple, believed to be the man’s parents, and the man’s sister also lived in the house.Witnesses said they didn’t know what precipitated the Sunday incident, but said it was not the first time police had responded to calls involving the man, including one where he threatened a neighbour with a machete.“As far as I can see, this shouldn’t have happened. He should be in a home, not in a subdivision,” said Main.Another neighbour, who only wanted to be identified by her first name Catherine, said the man was left alone at the house “a lot,” which raised concerns among people living on the street.“He shouldn’t have been by himself. He wasn’t a stable person. He acted accordingly,” she said. “The person who is most unfortunate in this was that man, who was not well.”Family members told Global News the 54-year-old victim, who they identified as Kyaw Din, had a history of mental illness and had been back and forth from hospital.Thant Din said his brother had been on medication, but had “become problematic” Sunday after either forgetting or refusing to take the pills.On Sunday afternoon, several police cruisers and ambulances were parked outside the house, which was cordoned off behind police tape. Family members could be seen outside, upset and angry.Main said he heard the sister yelling at the police, calling them “murderers.”The IIO said it was notified of the incident by the RCMP and was investigating “the link between police actions or inactions and the man’s injuries.”No other information would be released by police as the investigation is now in the hands of the police watchdog, said Roberts.chchan@postmedia.comtwitter.com/cherylchanCLICK HERE to report a typo. Is there more to this story? We’d like to hear from you about this or any other stories you think we should know about. Email vantips@postmedia.com.