Father and 11-year-old son injured during police shootout, B.C. watchdog says
Shots were fired near Merritt after RCMP tried to stop vehicle that had been reported stolen
An 11-year-old boy and his father are in hospital after gunfire was exchanged with police during a high-speed pursuit near Merritt, B.C., Sunday.
RCMP say shortly before 4 p.m. they tried to stop a white Ford F-350 truck and trailer that had been reported stolen but the vehicle fled.
A few hours later, the truck was spotted just outside of Merritt on Highway 5A with the trailer missing.
Officers used a spike belt to stall the truck, but it kept going before coming to a stop on Highway 8 near Snake Road and Highway 97C.
Mounties say the suspect and police were shooting at each other throughout the incident.
The province's Independent Investigations Office says a father and 11-year-old boy were found inside the truck with serious injuries and taken to hospital.
"We understand the child has injuries. We're not certain what caused them at this time," said Ronald McDonald, Chief Civilian Director with the province's Independent Investigations Office (IIO).
The IIO has taken over the case and will be investigating whether officers' actions or inactions led to the injuries.
McDonald said the man and boy are recovering from their injuries.