Image Credit: IIO

By James Peters

RCMP Shootout

Wanted man injured in shootout with RCMP near Merritt; IIO investigating

Sep 13, 2024 | 2:01 PM

MERRITT, B.C. — B.C.’s police watchdog has been called into Merritt after a suspect was seriously injured by RCMP bullets Thursday (Sept. 12).

In a news release, RCMP say the shooting on a forest service road came after a wild pursuit of a wanted man through the community.

Officers in the Southeast District Containment Team spotted the man driving a stolen vehicle in downtown Merritt at about 11:53 a.m. Thursday. The man did not stop for RCMP, instead leading them on a chase out of the city. Officers lost sight of him on a forest service road.

Moments later, as police were setting up containment and aerial surveillance, several 9-1-1 calls came in reporting a vehicle driving down Midday Valley Road, its driver firing a gun at workers in the area.

Mounties set up a road block, where the suspect allegedly fired on officers, leading to a shootout. Police rammed the vehicle until they had it disabled.

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Police arrested the injured suspect before sending him to hospital via helicopter. He is being held in connection with outstanding warrants.

A woman who was also in the vehicle suffered minor injuries. RCMP say no one else was hurt in the incident.

Merritt RCMP are investigating the stolen vehicle, the initial contact with officers and the complaint of shots fired at workers on the forest service road. Anyone with further information on those incidents is asked to call the local detachment at (250) 378-4262.

The Independent Investigations Office of B.C. (IIO) is looking into the final shootout that led to the man’s injuries. The IIO looks into any incident of death or serious injury that may have been the direct result of police action or inaction.