IIO investigating after 2 injured in police altercation in Merritt, B.C. [Video]

British Columbia’s police oversight agency is investigating after two people were injured – including a suspect who was airlifted to hospital with serious gunshot injuries – during an altercation with Mounties in the B.C. Interior.

Officers with the B.C. RCMP’s Southeast District containment team located a wanted man who was driving a stolen vehicle in downtown Merritt just before noon on Thursday, the RCMP said in a statement.

“A pursuit was authorized as the man refused to stop for the officers and drove recklessly through the city,” the statement said.

Police lost sight of the suspect vehicle as it fled towards a forest service road and an RCMP helicopter was brought in to conduct an aerial search.

Investigators say that within minutes of the suspect vehicle entering the forestry road, workers in the area placed multiple 911 calls saying a driver was shooting at them from a vehicle on Midday …