B.C. police watchdog investigating apparent suicide of officer charged with sexual assault [Video]

British Columbia’s police watchdog says it is investigating the apparent suicide of a Vancouver Island police officer, who was found dead shortly after he was charged with sexual assault.

The Independent Investigations Office of B.C. (IIO) says it was called Wednesday to the scene of a deceased man in a rural area near Shawnigan Lake, located about 30 kilometres northwest of Victoria, B.C. The man’s death appeared to be self-inflicted, according to the IIO.

The investigations office says the man was one of two Central Saanich police officers arrested and charged with sexual assault Tuesday, following an investigation by the Vancouver Police Department. 

Several police sources say one of those two men — 43-year-old Matthew Ball — died by suicide later the same day.

The IIO has now launched an investigation into what took place leading up to and during the officer’s death.