Man shot after ramming B.C. RCMP vehicle, injuring officer
Warning: This report contains graphic images some may find disturbing.
British Columbia's police oversight agency is investigating after an officer shot a man who the RCMP say drove into a police vehicle at the North Cowichan-Duncan RCMP detachment, injuring an officer.
The man and the officer were transported to hospital with what police say are non-life-threatening injuries.
The RCMP say an officer was checking on a vehicle in the police employee parking lot around 6:30 a.m. Friday, when a man drove into the lot, ramming the vehicle and injuring the officer.
"This is a very disturbing incident for our members and employees," North Cowichan-Duncan RCMP Insp. Chris Bear said in a statement.
"Additional supports and resources have been brought in to our detachment and core policing operations for the community will not be impacted. We are unsure what the man’s intentions were at this time, but the investigation will look to determine that."
The Independent Investigations Office of B.C., which investigates when police are involved in an incident that results in serious injury or death, has been deployed to the community.
"The main issue for us will be whether or not the officer who shot the civilian had reasonable, probable grounds to believe that there was a risk of grievous bodily harm or death to him or another individual," Ronald J. MacDonald, the office's chief civilian director, said.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the IIO witness line at 1-855-446-8477.
CTV News has obtained a video recording of the incident from an apartment building across from the police station.
The witness video shows a person in a grey hooded sweatshirt exit a dark-coloured SUV that has crashed head-on into an RCMP cruiser, apparently forcing the police vehicle down a small embankment.
Two uniformed RCMP officers approach the person who appears to be accessing the rear passenger seat of the SUV.
One officer can be seen drawing a weapon as the person turns toward him. A single gunshot is heard and the person falls backward onto the ground.
Police evidence markers were scattered around the parking lot near the two vehicles and the detachment remained behind police tape Friday afternoon.
"It‘s horrifying," said Rose Wall, who lives near the police station. "It seems like the violence is worse, seems like the police don't have the support they need or enough of them, so it's not a surprise. It's just horrifying."
Gerri Moulton, a North Cowichan resident, said incidents of violence in the community appear to be on the rise.
"It scares the heck out of me because everybody is going crazy right now," Moulton said. "These things are just crazy. It's happening too much."
The National Police Federation issued a statement saying more protections are needed for police officers amid increasing threats and violence across Canada.
"Earlier today, a police officer was injured in Duncan, B.C., after a subject rammed a police vehicle," president Brian Sauvé said.
"As always, our members responded professionally and bravely protecting each other and the public, arresting the individual."
Sauvé added that someone entered an RCMP detachment in Nanaimo earlier this week, threatening police officers and others, before he was arrested.
The municipality of North Cowichan asked the public to avoid the area around the detachment.
The incident occurred approximately six weeks after a North Cowichan-Duncan RCMP officer shot and seriously injured a man who was driving a piece of heavy construction equipment down residential streets at night.
Police said they received a report of an intoxicated man on a skid-steer around 9:15 p.m. on March 28.
A slow chase ensued and the skid-steer collided with police vehicles before an officer opened fire on the man, who was rushed to hospital.
The IIO is still investigating that earlier incident.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Live updates as Stormy Daniels testifies at Trump hush money trial
Adult film star Stormy Daniels will take the stand a second time Thursday as former U.S. president Donald Trump’s hush money case continues in Manhattan. Follow live updates here.
NEW Why these immigrants to Canada say they're thinking about leaving, or have already moved on
For some immigrants, their dreams of permanently settling in Canada have taken an unexpected twist.
Here are the ultraprocessed foods you most need to avoid, according to a 30-year study
Studies have shown that ultraprocessed foods can have a detrimental impact on health. But 30 years of research show they don’t all have the same impact.
NEW Capital gains tax change 'shortsighted' and 'sows division' business groups tell Freeland
Forging ahead with increasing Canada's capital gains inclusion rate 'sows division,' and is a 'shortsighted' way to improve the deficit, business groups are warning Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland.
Ontario man frustrated after $3,500 paving job leaves driveway in shambles
An Ontario man considering having his driveway paved received a quote from a company for $7,000, but then, another paver in the neighbourhood knocked on his door and offered half that rate.
RateMDs violates privacy of health professionals, class-action lawsuit claims
A lawsuit against RateMDs has been given the go-ahead by a B.C. Supreme Court judge who found the claim that the website violates the privacy rights of medical professionals is not 'bound to fail.'
Defence attacks Stormy Daniels' credibility as she returns to the stand in Trump's hush money trial
Stormy Daniels will return to the witness stand Thursday in Donald Trump's hush money trial as the defence tries to undermine the credibility of the porn actor's salacious testimony about their alleged sexual encounter and the money she was paid to keep quiet.
With contactless screening tech, this Toronto startup hopes to catch breast cancer early — and save lives
Amid evidence of rising breast cancer rates among young women in Canada, one Toronto startup is offering a contactless and radiation-free device that can help doctors identify suspicious changes in breast tissue. The company, Linda Lifetech, says this can lead to earlier detection of breast cancer.
Tornadoes tear through southeastern U.S. as storms leave 3 dead
Forecasters warned a wave of dangerous storms in the U.S. could wash over parts of the South early Thursday, a day after severe weather with damaging tornadoes and large hail killed at least three people in the region.