B.C.'s police watchdog investigating after death of man in Prince George RCMP custody

B.C.'s police watchdog has deployed investigators to Prince George after a man died early this morning in the custody of the RCMP.

According to the Independent Investigations Office, which provides civilian oversight into police-related incidents involving death or serious harm, police picked up the man last night for causing a disturbance while intoxicated.

He was arrested for being drunk in a public place and taken to the Prince George RCMP detachment, police said in a statement.

At about 2a.m. PT, he was found unresponsive.

RCMP members started CPR, and Emergency Health Services was called, but the man was pronounced dead shortly before 3a.m.

"The primary focus of our investigation at this point is to determine if the fatality of the male affected person is connected to the actions of the police," said Marten Yousseff, director of public engagement and policy with the IIO.

If the death is connected to police actions, the IIO will keep investigating, and if not, it will release jurisdiction back to the RCMP, said Youseff.

The RCMP has also initiated a review of the incident, according to a statementfrom the RCMP.

With files from Ash Kelly