Police watch dog called
Photo: RCMP
Lorence Williams
The Kelowna RCMP conducted two wellness checks on a home the day before the site of an alleged murder, which sparked an investigation by the BC police officer.
Lorence Earl Williams, 40, was charged on June 1 with the murder of Thomas Chadwick in connection with a May 30th death in a house on 3400 block on Sexsmith Road.
The police said they were called into the apartment shortly after 10:00 p.m. on May 30 to report a deceased person. They immediately started a manhunt for Williams and arrested him later that day with the help of a tip from the public.
BC’s Independent Investigations Office has now announced that officials actually visited the site of the alleged murder twice on May 29, the day before the crime.
Officials and members of the police and crisis team, which includes a mental health nurse, responded to two calls regarding Williams’ “wellness”.
The IIO said Williams “left the residence after the second police visit”.
The next day, another man who lived in the house, Thomas Chadwick, was found dead outside and Williams was charged with the murder. Those who knew the victim have told Castanet that they told police about Williams’ mental health prior to the alleged murder.
“The IIO was informed of the incident on May 31st and opened an investigation to determine whether police actions or omissions could have played a role in the incident,” the IIO said in a brief statement.
The IIO asks anyone who has relevant information about the incident to contact the witness hotline at 1-855-446-8477 or use the contact form on iiobc.ca free of charge.
The IIO investigates all incidents involving officers that result in serious injury or death, whether or not there is an allegation of misconduct.
Photo: Madison Erhardt
The location of a murder on the 3400 block of Sexsmith Road in Kelowna on May 30th.
