Attempted carjacking in Merritt ends with arrest of man and woman

MERRITT, B.C. – An act of kindness turned into a nasty attack on a Good Samaritan in Merritt, B.C.

RCMP in the city, about 90 kilometres south of Kamloops, say the unnamed victim picked up a man and woman he believed were stranded on Highway 97C on Wednesday, and gave them a ride into Merritt.

Const. Tracy Dunsmore says the pair forced the man to drive to a rural area, produced a gun and assaulted him, but ran off when they were unable to take the car.

The victim was treated in hospital while RCMP tracked the couple to a hotel in Merritt.

The woman was arrested outside the building and an emergency response team eventually arrested the male suspect inside one of the rooms.

RCMP in Kelowna confirm the vehicle that broke down on Highway 97C, stranding the couple, had been stolen in the Okanagan sometime earlier. (CFJC)