The Independent Investigations Office of British Columbia (IIO BC) are investigating a police incident that occurred four kilometres south of Barriere in which one man was injured.
Frontline RCMP officers from the Barriere detachment responded just before 10 p.m. on Friday, May 20, to the 2900-block of Highway 5 in the Louis Creek area to investigate a report that a man had been dropped off on the side of the road and had picked up what appeared to be a weapon.
“Officers deployed to the area and located the man,” reported Senior RCMP Media Relations Officer S/Sgt. Janelle Shoihet on Saturday morning. “An interaction occurred between the man and officers, and shots were fired by police. The man was shot and injured. The officers were not injured. Officers on the scene began first aid until BC Emergency Health Services arrived to transport the man to hospital.”
Highway 5 was immediately shut down as a result of the incident, and remained that way until 7 a.m. Saturday morning.
A large number of passenger vehicles were able to turn around on the highway and re-route to their destination, but some 100 commercial big rigs and RV’s spent nine hours on a cold night parked along the highway.
“The Southeast District General Investigation Section is also conducting a concurrent criminal code investigation,” said Officer Shoihet, “At this time no further information will be released by police.”
Editor’s note: The Independent Investigations Office (IIO) of British Columbia is a civilian-led police oversight agency responsible for conducting investigations into incidents of death or serious harm that may have been the result of the actions or inactions of a police officer, whether on or off duty.
District of BarriereHighway 5North Thompson Valleypolice shootingRCMP
