Police watchdog called after suspect shot, woman injured in Merritt, B.C.
CTV
British Columbia's police oversight agency is investigating after two people were injured – including a suspect who was airlifted to hospital with serious gunshot injuries – during an altercation with Mounties in the B.C. Interior.
British Columbia's police oversight agency is investigating after two people were injured – including a suspect who was airlifted to hospital with serious gunshot injuries – during an altercation with Mounties in the B.C. Interior.
Officers with the B.C. RCMP's Southeast District containment team located a wanted man who was driving a stolen vehicle in downtown Merritt just before noon on Thursday, the RCMP said in a statement.
"A pursuit was authorized as the man refused to stop for the officers and drove recklessly through the city," the statement said.
Police lost sight of the suspect vehicle as it fled towards a forest service road and an RCMP helicopter was brought in to conduct an aerial search.
Investigators say that within minutes of the suspect vehicle entering the forestry road, workers in the area placed multiple 911 calls saying a driver was shooting at them from a vehicle on Midday Valley Road, southwest of the city.
Police established road blocks in the area and confronted the suspect, who fired shots at officers, according to the RCMP statement. Police returned fire, hitting the man, and rammed the suspect vehicle until it was disabled, the statement said.
"The man was taken into custody, immediately provided medical aid and was airlifted to hospital with serious injuries.," the RCMP said. "A female passenger was treated for injuries and released. No one else sustained injuries."
