The provincial police watchdog is investigating a police-involved shooting following a man hunt for a wanted man in Merritt on Thursday.
On Thursday, the Merritt RCMP said they were actively seeking out a 37-year-old Ron Karlson who had been wanted on an arrest warrant since early June.
He was arrested that night.
In a news release issued Friday afternoon, the Independent Investigations Office of British Columbia (IIO BC) said they were notified that two people had suffered injuries during the arrest.
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Police located the wanted man in a stolen vehicle driving in the downtown area of Merritt shortly before noon.
According to a news release, a pursuit was authorized after the mana allegedly failed to stop for police and drove “recklessly” through the city.
“The man fled towards a forest service road, where officers lost a visual of the suspect vehicle,” the IIO said.
“Containment was set up in the area and RCMP Air Services assisted with an aerial search for the suspect vehicle.”
However, multiple 911 calls began coming in from workers in the area that a vehicle was driving down Midday Valley Road and the driver was allegedly shooting at them.
The suspect was confronted by a police roadblock and shots were fired by police, hitting the man and officers rammed the vehicle until it was “disabled.”
Officers arrested the man and he was airlifted to the hospital with “serious” injuries, the IIO said.
A female passenger was treated for injuries and released. No other injuries were reported.
The man is being held custody and due in court next week.
The Merritt RCMP are investigating the stolen vehicle and initial engagement with police.
The IIO will be investigating the shooting and police actions in the incident.
Until both investigations are finished, no other information will be shared.
