A woman injured while being arrested at a Chilliwack bar will require surgery, according to B.C.'s police watchdog.
The Independent Investigations Office of BC (IIO) is now investigating the incident, which took place Nov. 23 at 2:30 a.m. at a restaurant on Gaetz Street.
Chilliwack RCMP said in a release Monday that they were called to the location when a woman who was reported to be intoxicated was trying to drive. The release said they arrived to find the woman in the driver's seat of a vehicle with the engine running, and that she left the vehicle and attempted to get back into it.
"The officers attempted to stop her but the situation escalated and ultimately resulted in officers taking her into custody," the RCMP release stated.
The IIO said in a separate press release that there was an interaction and the woman was arrested, resulting in a serious injury. She was then taken by ambulance to a hospital where it was determined she will require surgery, the IIO added.
"Initial investigative steps will seek to confirm the details of the incident and if any force used by police was necessary, reasonable, and proportionate in the circumstances," the IIO said. They are asking anyone with relevant information about the incident to contact the Witness Line toll-free at 1-855-446-8477 or via the contact form on the website.
NOTE: An earlier version of this story included a misattribution. Black Press regrets the error and any confusion it may have caused.