IIO investigating Williams Lake incident that left woman seriously injured
Published 2:56 pm Friday, August 21, 2026
The Independent Investigations Office of BC (IIO) is investigating an incident in Williams Lake after a woman sustained serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
In a press release, the IIO said the incident occurred May 8, 2026, in a municipal park.
The IIO reported that initial information states the woman had an interaction with bylaw officers and city staff. RCMP officers were called to the area and advised her that she needed to leave the park.
At one point during an interaction between the woman and an RCMP officer, she sustained serious but non-life threatening injuries.
The IIO was notified of the incident on July 3 by the Police Accountability Unit of the BC First Nations Justice Council, which was acting on behalf of the woman.
The police watch investigators are asking anyone who witnessed any part of the incident or may have video to contact the IIO Witness Line at 1-855-446-8477 or through the contact form on the IIO website.
According to the release, at the beginning of each investigation, the IIO considers whether an injury meets the threshold of serious harm, as defined by the Police Act, or whether a death occurred. It also considers whether there is a connection between the serious harm or death and officer action or inaction.
If both conditions are met, the investigation continues to examine available evidence to determine what occurred. At the conclusion of an investigation, the chief civilian director considers whether there are reasonable grounds to believe an offence may have occurred.
The IIO is British Columbia’s independent civilian oversight agency for officers and detention guards. It investigates incidents involving officers or detention guards that result in serious harm or death, regardless of whether wrongdoing is alleged.