Nakusp RCMP say two people have been arrested south of Fauquier following a chase that saw a police car struck and a shot fired.
Police say on the evening of May 31, an officer noticed a suspicious motorhome and tried to stop it. They didn’t reveal what made the vehicle suspicious or where it was at the time but said it wouldn’t stop and sped off. In the interest of public safety, the officer didn’t chase after it.
The next morning loggers working along Octopus Forest Service Road reported seeing the vehicle and provided a license plate that matched the fleeing motorhome. The loggers stayed nearby to keep watch until police arrived.
Police say they got there to find the motorhome driving “erratically” down the road. They tried to stop the driver, including with a spike belt, but the driver kept going and hit a police car, at which point an officer fired their gun. Police say the motorhome was “disabled” as a result but no one was injured.
The driver ran off into the woods but a woman who was also in the vehicle was arrested without incident.
Police notified local ferry crews and residents to encourage them to report suspicious activity. This led to a volunteer patrol, who spotted the suspect in Fauquier.
With help from the RCMP’s emergency response team and a service dog, the suspect was arrested.
The 28-year-old man, who is known to police in B.C. and Alberta, faces charges of assault, dangerous operation of a conveyance, and numerous counts of failing to comply with his release and probation orders.
The 25-year-old woman from Kelowna faces charges of failing to comply with her release orders.
Cpl. Thomas Gill thanked the community and visitors “for their invaluable assistance in apprehending the suspects. Their cooperation demonstrated the strength and safety of our communities when we all come together.”
Police only publicized the incident Friday, more than a week after it took place.
