Vancouver police officer who hit pedestrian in DTES could face charges

A Vancouver police officer behind the wheel of a police cruiser that crashed into a pedestrian standing on a Downtown Eastside street last fall could face charges.

The Independent Investigations Office of B.C. has sent a report to the B.C. Prosecution Service for consideration of charges against the officer who was driving a police cruiser that collided with a man standing on East Hastings Street between Columbia and Main Streets at around 3:20 a.m. on Sept. 20, 2022.

Ronald J. MacDonald, chief civilian director of the police oversight agency, has found “reasonable grounds exist to believe that one officer may have committed driving offences,” said the IIO.

The prosecution service will decide whether it would pursue charges.

The collision was captured by security cameras and the footage was shared by the Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users which had called the incident “VPD vehicular assault.”