UPDATE (6 a.m.): BC RCMP has confirmed a police officer was shot during a traffic stop near Golden on Tuesday.
The police officer suffered the gunshot after attempting to stop a vehicle believed to be involved in a theft. Reportedly, the theft of a vehicle at gunpoint followed.
"At this time we're confirming that our officer sustained a gunshot injury during the circumstances surrounding the initial vehicle stop," said Sgt. Rob Vermeulen. "The police officer has been taken to hospital.
"The officer and family are being offered all possible support."
Highway 1 near Golden was shut down to traffic after the incident, although traffic is now being allowed.
"Thank you very much to the motoring public for their patience," continued Vermeulen. "These are serious allegations, and our officers needed to work quickly to gather perishable evidence.
"No one is in custody at this time."
The search for the suspect is still ongoing.
ORIGINAL STORY:
The RCMP are searching for a suspect after a police officer was injured during a vehicle stop.
According to RCMP S/Sgt Rob Vermeulen, earlier today an RCMP officer conducted a vehicle stop on Highway 1, near the weight scales west of Golden, in connection with “a possible theft.”
Vermeulen says the suspect in the stopped vehicle would not listen to the officer, and stole a nearby vehicle, injuring the officer in the process.
Multiple witnesses to the event say the the officer was shot, but Vermeulen did not elaborate on the nature of the injuries. He said only that they are “believed to be non-life threatening.”
He said an “active search” is underway for the suspect, with multiple police resources responding.
“Please be advised it is very early during an evolving police investigation, and information at this time, such as direction of travel, is still limited,” he wrote.
DriveBC reports that Highway 1 remains closed 22 km west of Golden because of a “Police Incident,” and does not give a reopening time.
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