B.C.’s police watchdog clears Merritt officers of wrongdoing in September 2024 shootout and arrest

MERRITT, B.C. — B.C.’s police watchdog has cleared Merritt RCMP officers of any wrongdoing after they fired shots at two suspects during an arrest outside of the city last fall.

In a news release issued Tuesday (April 29), the Independent Investigation’s Office (IIO) of B.C. says the delegate of the chief civilian director reviewed all evidence, including medical reports, police reports, video and witness statements, and determined there are no reasonable grounds to believe any officer may have committed an offence.

The IIO states its public report will not be published until current matters before the courts are complete.

The investigation stems from Sept. 12, 2024, when Merritt RCMP officers got into a shootout with a wanted man on a forest service road outside the community. The IIO says police were made aware of previous reports of gunshots fired in Merritt involving civilians.

Merritt RCMP say officers in the Southeast District Containment Team spotted the male suspect driving a stolen vehicle in the city’s downtown. He did not stop for police.

Calls then came in reporting a vehicle driving down Midday Valley Road with the driver firing a gun at workers in the area. RCMP set up a roadblock, where the suspect allegedly fired on officers, leading to a shootout. Police rammed the vehicle until they had it disabled.

The man was arrested then sent to hospital via helicopter. A woman who was also in the vehicle suffered minor injuries.

The IIO looks into any incident of death or serious injury that may have been the direct result of police action or inaction.