The provincial civilian police watchdog says they are investigating the apparent suicide of one of the Central Saanich police officers charged with sexual assault.

On Tuesday, Dec 17, the Vancouver Police Department announced that Sgt. Matthew Ball and Const. Ryan Johnston were arrested and charged with one count each of sexual assault, Ball was also charged with breach of trust. It was reported on Wednesday, Dec. 18 that Ball had died after being released on bail.

According to the Independent Investigations Office of B.C.(IIO), on Tuesday both officers were released, and on Dec. 18, the RCMP was called to the scene of a deceased man in a rural area near Shawnigan Lake.

"It was later determined the man was one of the CSPS members that had been arrested and it appears the manner of death was self-inflicted," noted a release from the IIO.

The IIO says they have commenced an investigation, and initial steps will look to confirm the details of what occurred leading up to, and during the officer's death.

During the announcement at Vancouver Police headquarters on Tuesday, VPD Deputy Chief Fiona Wilson explained that over a seven-week period, a team of VPD officers investigated the accused after a woman reported the alleged unlawful sexual contact between 2019 and 2023.

"Details of these arrests may shock many of you. They will reverberate throughout the community in which these officers serve and beyond," Wilson told reporters. 

"Allegations like these are deeply corrosive to the public trust police officers depend on to keep their communities safe."

The Central Saanich Police Service said at the time that the officers were suspended that the department had begun the process to suspend them without pay.

鈥淩egardless of who is accused, when these allegations were brought forward, they were taken very seriously, acted upon immediately and resulted in criminal charges,鈥� said Lawson, adding he would not comment further to ensure the integrity of the case is not impacted.