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Officer shot, hunt is on

UPDATE: 6 a.m.

Police say a Mountie was shot and injured while trying to stop a vehicle near Golden, Tuesday.

RCMP spokesman Staff Sgt. Rob Vermeulen says in a statement that the officer was injured during a "rapidly evolving series of events."

Vermeulen says multiple officers were trying to stop a vehicle believed to be associated with a theft when shots were fired. He says another vehicle was allegedly stolen at gunpoint shortly after.

A spokeswoman for the Provincial Health Services Authority says one patient was airlifted to an undisclosed hospital in serious but stable condition.

"The police officer has been taken to hospital. The officer and family are being offered all possible support," Vermeulen says.

No one is in custody and a search for a suspect continues.


UPDATE: 5:45 a.m.

DriveBC reports the Trans-Canada Highway reopened to alternating traffic just after 4:30 a.m. and was fully reopened at 4:50 a.m.


UPDATE: 11:10 P.M.

DriveBC continues to report that Highway 1 is closed in both directions.

The closure follows a shooting, in which an RCMP officer was wounded near Golden Tuesday afternoon.

That closure remains in effect for a 122-kilometre stretch between Revelstoke and Donald Station, according to an 11 p.m. update.

Another 10:30 p.m. update says the highway is closed in both directions from Sicamous to Revelstoke, also due to a police situation.

A vehicle was allegedly stolen at gunpoint during the incident.

No new information on the police incident has not yet been released.

For more updates on the situation overnight, visit DriveBC's website.


UPDATE 8:09 P.M.

Highway 1 has been opened to traffic following a shooting in which a member of the RCMP was wounded.

However, witnesses tell Castanet heavily armed officers are still searching vehicles at a check point.

The drama started near Golden Tuesday afternoon.

An officer suffered the gunshot after police attempted to stop a vehicle believed to be associated to a theft.

The suspect is to have allegedly stolen another vehicle at gunpoint following the shooting.

"At this time, we're confirming that our officer sustained a gunshot injury during the circumstances surrounding the initial vehicle stop. The police officer has been taken to hospital. The officer and family are being offered all possible support,” said Staff Sgt. Rob Vermeulen.

Highway 1 near Golden was shut down to traffic for several hours following the incident.

Traffic is now being allowed through, but the highway is not fully re-opened yet.

A group that represents RCMP members says a female officer was shot in the arm.

Rob Creasser, with the Mounted Police Professional Association of Canada, says details on the situation are scarce, but there may be several suspects.

A spokeswoman for the Provincial Health Services Authority says one patient was airlifted from a police incident near Golden to an undisclosed hospital in serious but stable condition.

Vermeulen says a search for a suspect is currently underway.

– with files from The Canadian Press


UPDATE: 5:30 p.m.

A group that represents RCMP members says a female officer has been shot in the arm near the community of Golden, in southeastern British Columbia.

Rob Creasser, with the Mounted Police Professional Association of Canada, says details on the situation are scarce, but there may be several suspects.

RCMP spokesman Staff Sgt. Rob Vermeulen says in a news release that the officer stopped a vehicle Tuesday in connection with a possible theft and the suspect failed to comply with police direction.

He confirms the officer was hurt and is suffering from what is believed to be non-life-threatening injuries.

Vermeulen says a search for a suspect is currently underway.


UPDATE: 4:40 p.m.

A police-involved incident has prompted the closure of Highway 1 for 122 kilometres between Donald Station and Revelstoke.

RCMP are saying the incident began earlier this afternoon when police stopped a vehicle in connection with a possible theft near the weigh scales west of Golden.

The suspect failed to comply with police direction, and stole a nearby vehicle.

During the incident, police say an officer was injured. The injuries are believed to be non-life-threatening.

Witnesses said an officer was shot during the incident and taken to hospital. 

There is now an active search underway for the suspect in this incident, with multiple police resources responding.

According to witnesses, the suspect drove the stolen SUV into a ditch just east of Revelstoke to avoid a spike belt.

Castanet will update with more details as they become available.


UPDATE: 4:25 p.m.

A witness to the police drama unfolding on Highway 1 says a man with a rifle was shooting at RCMP officers.

The witness says he was about 20 vehicles back from a police road check when the driver of a red van, who had been weaving through traffic, reached the front of the line.

"That's when I saw cops running everywhere," he said. "The guy that got out had a rifle, and I saw him shooting towards police. He then ran towards our vehicles down the line, before turning to the traffic heading west and holding his rifle up to them."

He stopped a black SUV and forced the occupants out at gunpoint.

"He then got in and sped away to the west."


UPDATE: 3:55 p.m.

Unconfirmed reports sent to Castanet indicate the incident involves the shooting of a police officer.

According to a witness at the scene, an officer pulled over a vehicle about 15 kilometres west of Golden. A suspect in the vehicle then apparently shot the officer and fled in a stolen vehicle.

Castanet has calls in to Southeast District and Golden RCMP officials.

More details when they become available.


ORIGINAL: 3:50 p.m.

A police incident has forced the closure of Highway 1 near Golden.

DriveBC reports the highway is closed 22 kilometres west of Golden, which is near a weigh station.

There is no estimated time of reopening.



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