Medical distress in police lockup investigated

A police watchdog agency is investigating an incident involving a woman being held in the Vernon RCMP cells.

“The Independent Investigations Office of B.C. (IIO of BC) was notified by Vernon RCMP on July 25, 2019 that a female had been arrested the previous day and had been held in cells overnight prior to a court appearance. The female spoke with RCMP officers and sheriffs late morning while in a cell in preparation for court,” stated a news release from the IIO of B.C.

The agency said RCMP reported that shortly after that, the female was seen to be in medical distress in the cell.

“Emergency Health Services was called and the individual was transported to hospital, where they (sic) remain with a yet to be established cause.”