IIO investigating fatal roadside incident near Merritt last week

MERRITT, B.C. — BC’s police watchdog is investigating an incident near Merritt last week that resulted in a man losing his life.

In a news release issued Tuesday (April 7), the Independent Investigations Office of BC (IIO) says the incident began at about 9:30 p.m. last Thursday, along Highway 97C near Iron Mountain Road south of Merritt.

The IIO says an RCMP officer came across a vehicle parked at the side of the road with a man inside. The officer reported the man had a gun.

Around the same time, a caller alerted police that they were concerned for a family member who was believed to be in the area.