IIO will not recommend charges in 2025 Langley death

B.C.’s Independent Investigations Office will not recommend charges against Langley RCMP officers involved in an October 2025 incident in which a man went into cardiac arrest and later died in hospital.

Police were called shortly after 4 a.m. on Oct. 1 to an apartment in the 19800-block of 54 Avenue after reports of a man causing a disturbance in a hallway. The IIO says officers found him in medical distress, called paramedics and restrained him after his behaviour became uncontrolled.

A civilian witness reported seeing officers point conducted energy weapons at the man, but the IIO found no evidence they were used. Paramedics said the man was restrained at ground level and assessed him as appearing to enter cardiac arrest. They began life-saving measures when they found no pulse.

The autopsy cited acute cocaine intoxication, cardiomegaly, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, and the physiological stress of the police incident and restraint as contributing to death; obesity was also a contributing factor. IIO chief civilian director Jessica Berglund said the evidence did not show unnecessary or excessive force, and medical help was summoned as soon as reasonably possible. The three subject officers did not provide statements, which they were not required to do.