VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – BC’s new Independent Investigation Office has been called in after a man died in Vancouver last night.

Officers got a call about a drunk man causing a disturbance around West 7th and Laurel Street around 6:45 p.m.

Police say the 51-year-old was banned from detox so they offered to take him home instead. By the time they got him home, he had passed out.
    
Officers called an ambulance to take him to the hospital where he died a short while later.

Owen Court with the IIO says that’s when his investigators were called in.

“We were able to send a team last night shortly after we were called, so our response time was immediate and we’ll be sending the same investigators back for more follow-up investigation,” he explains.

“Our efforts are focused on locating this gentleman’s next-of-kin and informing them that he’s passed away, along with canvassing the area in which this occurred to determine if there are any witnesses available,” Court adds.

Anyone who may have witnessed this incident or has any information is asked to call the IIO tipline at 1-855-446-TIPS.