Police have been cleared of wrongdoing in the death of an 83-year-old man who was found in his vehicle that was submerged in a lake near Port Alberni back in December.
According to the IIO, the man was found deceased in his vehicle submerged in Sproat Lake, near the 10700-block of Lakeshore Road.
The sequence of events began unfolding on December 13th, 2023 when RCMP responded to a report expressing concern for the well-being of Brian Watkins who had dementia. He was seen driving a green Pontiac Sunfire around 6:45 p.m. that day.
An officer encountered and spoke with Watkins approximately two hours later, at 8:40 p.m.
Following this interaction, at approximately 10:25 p.m., another call was received as the man had not returned home—prompting them to search for him again.
Related:
- Witnesses sought after missing 83-year-old Port Alberni man found dead in vehicle
- Missing 83-year-old Port Alberni man located deceased
Tragically, on December 15th, the man was discovered deceased inside his vehicle, which was submerged in Sproat Lake.
Following the discovery, the Independent Investigations Office of BC (IIO) was promptly notified. The police watchdog stated that its investigation will examine the specifics of Watkins’ interaction with the officer and his subsequent whereabouts.
Upon examining evidence, such as photographs, witness statements, and police reports, the IIO said that there are no reasonable grounds to believe any officer committed an offense.
Furthermore, the lead investigator said that police actions or inactions are deemed not responsible for the man’s death.
