A man is presumed dead after a fitness check at a home in South Langley, near the U. S. border, that ended in a main fire that destroyed a structure and left vehicles burned.
British Columbia’s Independent Investigations Office, charged with investigating incidents involving police in the province that result in death or serious injury to a member of the public, has been notified and is investigating.
BEFORE CHRIST. RCMP said in a news bulletin Saturday night that the first call was received around 10:15 a. m. on Friday.
At the time, Langley’s RCMP was asked “to verify the well-being of an individual who was distraught and had made disturbing comments,” according to the statement.
Officers finally located the man in the 23,000 block of Avenue 0 around 4 p. m. , police said.
While the Mounties did not specify the deal in their statement, B. C. Emergency Health Services said the incident happened at 23557 0 Ave. , and the aftermath of the fire showed up at that location on Saturday.
“At the scene, Langley RCMP officials reported that shots were fired from inside the building,” the RCMP said.
As a result, the Lower Mainland Integrated Emergency Response Group also called and attempted to touch the man, who had barricaded himself inside, according to police.
“Around 10:40 p. m. a fire broke out that eventually razed the building,” they said. “It is believed that the individual did not leave the building. “
Police added that they believed he died in the fire. There were no other injuries as a result of the incident.
Five BCEHS cars were sent to the address, but no one was transported off-site, the company said.
Smoke can still be seen billowing from a number of burned vehicles on the property, and one of the vehicles appeared to have remnants of police lights on its roof, suggesting it was possibly an RCMP vehicle that burned. .
The gendarmerie said in its statement that “two police vehicles used for containment were seriously damaged by the fire. “
One of the burned-out vehicles appeared to have remnants of police lights on the roof, suggesting it could have been an RCMP police vehicle that burned down. (CTV)
A family member of the owners of a nearby property, who declined to share his call with CTV News, said several homes in the area were evacuated Friday night as the RCMP dealt with the incident.
The gendarmerie said firefighters were “still actively rushing to the scene” on Saturday night, adding that efforts to locate the deceased would continue once the scene was secured.
The IIO is recently investigating whether police action contributed to the man’s alleged death. The office investigates incidents that result in death or serious injury, whether or not there are allegations of wrongdoing by police.
The IIO requests with the touch form or the corresponding video to touch its Witness Line at 855-446-8477 or use the touch form on its website.
The Langley RCMP investigation is ongoing.
The incident at 23557 0 Ave. in Langley. (TVC)