The police investigation into the death of a man whose body was discovered in downtown Nanaimo has been turned over to the B.C. Coroners Service after finding no evidence of foul play.
The body of Jerry Patrick Jimmy, 27, was found shortly after 8 a.m. Jan. 2 between two parked vehicles on the Budget Car and Truck Rentals lot on Terminal Avenue.
“Foul play has been ruled out in the death of the individual and as a result of that, the case has been turned over to the coroner for further investigation,” said Const. Gary O’Brien, Nanaimo RCMP spokesman.
The coroners service made Jimmy’s identity public Thursday, but has not released information about what caused his death, which is still being investigated.
The Independent Investigations Office of B.C. was also called upon by the Nanaimo RCMP to investigate if there any connection between Jimmy’s death and actions of police, but only had the case a few hours before determining police were not involved.
“On New Year’s Eve, we were called to a house party at which the deceased had been there, but upon our arrival he was not,” O’Brien said. “Given the fact that there was possible police contact and then the next police contact is when the person is found deceased, that’s why the IIO did a very quick review and determined that there was no need for their involvement.”
