(Image credit: Merritt RCMP)

By Connor Gunn

KIDNAPPING

Three suspects charged in Merritt kidnapping incident

Nov 19, 2022 | 1:43 PM

MERRITT — Three people are being held in custody after being charged following an alleged kidnapping in Merritt.

In a news release, Merritt RCMP states that officers heard a gunshot in the 1300 block of Priest Avenue on November 18 at around 1:00 p.m.

There, a dark-coloured sedan was seen leaving the area.

The sedan was then located shortly after in the 1700 block of Nicola Avenue.

“The suspects attempted to flee from police however, police were able to track down and arrest the individuals,” the RCMP release reads.

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RCMP says the victim was located by police and was uninjured while the three suspects were subsequently arrested and taken into custody.

Braeden Shane Drake, Mark Ethan Giesbrecht and William Joseph Lavoie have each been charged in the incident.

Each of them face charges of indictment for hostage-taking with a firearm, as well as entering a dwelling house without lawful excuse to commit an indictable offence.

The investigation is ongoing so RCMP requests the public to submit any information they may have to the Merritt RCMP detachment at 250-378-4262.