B.C. woman charged after victim flees confinement, calls police

Merritt is located the Nicola Valley of the south-central B.C. Interior. (Shutterstock)

A Merritt, B.C., woman has been charged with multiple offences, including unlawful confinement and assault causing bodily harm, after police raided a home in the Interior community earlier this week.

Court documents show Kristal Lynn Poirier, born in 1985, was taken into custody Wednesday and has since been charged with two counts each of unlawful confinement, uttering threats, assault with a weapon and assault causing bodily harm.

Earlier that day, the Merritt RCMP were called to a Save-On-Foods grocery store, where a male victim told police he had escaped from a home in the 2000 block of Clapperton Avenue where he had been held against his will.

An emergency response team was called in to help investigators execute a search warrant at the home.

In a statement Friday, the Merritt RCMP detachment said investigators determined that two victims had been unlawfully held on the property and were now safe.

Schools in the area were placed under hold-and-secure protocols while police executed the search.

“At no time was anyone in any school building in danger,” the RCMP statement said.

Police say officers uncovered a large quantity of illicit drugs, prohibited firearms, firearm-manufacturing equipment and cash in the home.

“Additional charges may be recommended as the investigation evolves,” the statement said.

Anyone with information related to the investigation is asked to contact the Merritt RCMP at 250-378-4262.