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Spike belt (File photo/RCMP)
By Pete McIntyre
Highway incident

Suspect threatens police with blow torch

Oct 11, 2022 | 3:45 PM

It was an eventful morning for police officers in the Salmon Arm area.

RCMP say at around 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday (Oct. 11), the driver of an Alberta registered vehicle fled from B.C. Highway Patrol.

The vehicle was then seen on the Trans Canada Highway in Salmon Arm, driving in a dangerous manner.

The vehicle evaded a spike belt in Canoe and continued to Sicamous where it proceeded to turn off the highway.

The vehicle later struck a police car and fled the area on the Trans Canada eastbound.

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“West of the Perry River Bridge, Revelstoke officers spike-belted the vehicle and it was brought to a stop with four flat tires. The suspect driver then threatened officers with a blow torch,” said Staff Sgt. Scott West.

The driver was taken into custody without injury.

Highway traffic was shut down during the incident to ensure public safety.

“The driver of the vehicle is suspended from driving in Alberta and will be facing a number of driving charges in B.C. stemming from his driving and confrontation with police as a result of this incident,” West explained.

The 48-year-old male suspect is in police custody, awaiting a bail hearing

by Pete McIntyre
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