The RCMP want to talk to anyone who may have witnessed an assault on a man who died after being arrested and kept overnight in cells at Oceanside RCMP on July 18.
John Boyce, 53, died in hospital on the morning of July 22. The Independent Investigations Office of sa国际传媒 is looking into whether the RCMP played any role in his death.
Information provided to the IIO said police responded to calls about a man allegedly causing a disturbance in the 100-block of Island Highway West in Parksville.
Police arrested the man and put him in cells at the Oceanside detachment. Officers said when the man was released the following morning, he appeared unwell, so police contacted paramedics, who took the man to hospital.
At the hospital, the man was found to have suffered a serious injury. His injuries were not disclosed.
On Thursday, Oceanside RCMP asked anyone with information about Boyce to contact investigators.
Sgt. Shane Worth said in a statement that police and sa国际传媒 Ambulance paramedics were dispatched at 6:45 p.m. on July 18 to the Craig Street Market in Parksville to assist Boyce, who reportedly told a witness he had been assaulted.
Boyce left the market before first responders arrived but was found an hour later in Memorial Plaza, where he was allegedly causing a disturbance. He was arrested and lodged in cells, said Worth.
An autopsy will be performed to determine his cause of death.
“At this time, the circumstances surrounding Mr. Boyce’s assault have not been determined,” said Worth. “Mr. Boyce was known to frequent the Parksville downtown core and investigators are trying to re-trace his movements, including if a potential assault occurred in the days prior to July 18.”
Anyone who can assist investigators is asked to call Oceanside RCMP at 250-248-6111 quoting file No. 2023-7348.
