(JENNIFER STAHN / iNFOnews.ca)

A wanted man got into a shootout with police in Merritt, and now BC’s police watchdog is investigating.

RCMP officers located a wanted man driving a stolen vehicle in Merritt around 12 p.m. on Sept. 12, according to a press release from police.

The man refused to stop for police and drove recklessly through Merritt towards a forest service road.

Once the vehicle got onto the forest service road police lost sight of it. Police decided to set up containment and use RCMP Air Services to search for the wanted man.

Shortly after, there were emergency calls from workers in the area about a vehicle going down Midday Valley Road shooting at them.

Officers confronted the man at a roadblock, and they were shot at. RCMP fired back and hit the man, then rammed the vehicle until it was disabled.

The suspect was taken into custody and airlifted to hospital for serious injuries. A female passenger who was treated for injuries and released.

The wanted man is being held on outstanding warrants and has a court appearance next week.

Merritt RCMP are investigating the stolen vehicle, shootout with police and the alleged shots fired at workers along the road.

The Independent Investigations Office, the civilian body in charge of investigating police use of force, is investigating the shootout as well.

Since the incident is under investigation RCMP said it will not be releasing any more information.

The Independent Investigations Office of BC is a civilian-led police oversight agency responsible for conducting investigations into incidents of death or serious harm that may have been the result of the actions or inactions of a police officer, whether on or off duty.

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