Police watchdog clears officers in August 2025 Prince George death

A report released Friday by British Columbia's police watchdog found no reasonable grounds to believe Prince George RCMP officers committed an offence in connection with a man's death in August 2025.

Around 4:54 a.m. on August 24, 2025, a civilian witness called 911 to report sounds of someone screaming and smashing items in a neighbouring home. Three officers wearing body cameras were first on scene and were let inside by the occupants.

“After additional attempts by police to get the person to open the door, he could be heard to say, I'm dying, and said he could not open it.”

Two officers went to a bedroom door where a person could be heard gasping and blood was visible underneath. The door was locked from the inside, and officers announced they were police but received no audible response.

After further attempts to get the person to open the door, he could be heard saying he was dying and could not open it. One officer warned that police would kick the door down, then kicked it open; the door apparently struck the person, who was lying on the floor.

Officers saw a lot of blood on the person's body and radioed for an ambulance. The second officer shone a flashlight into the room and saw the person rapidly pick up a dark brown wooden dowel or stick with a silver metal plate attached, holding it in both hands toward the officer.

The officer jumped backward and the person closed the door, apparently with their foot. The first officer told the others the person had produced a weapon.