Police watchdog investigating after man mistaken for suspect seriously injured

The RCMP is apologizing to a seriously injured man whom officers mistook for a robbery suspect in Surrey, B.C.

Mounties say in a news release that officers were called to investigate an armed robbery at a business in the early hours of Feb. 8.

They say an officer found a person riding a bicycle nearby and believed he matched the description of the suspect.

RCMP allege the man resisted the officer's attempts to take him into custody and a struggle ensued, prompting other officers to join in.

They say the man was assessed and treated at the scene by BC Emergency Health Services and it was later determined they had the wrong man.

RCMP say they have since learned that he suffered serious injuries and notified the Independent Investigations Office, which will investigate whether police actions are linked to the injuries.