UPDATE: Arrest made after Kamloops Mountie shot

SHOT MOUNTIE RECOVERING AFTER SUCCESSFUL SURGERY

KAMLOOPS – Kamloops RCMP have made an arrest outside a residence in Batchelor Heights in connection with the shooting of an officer early this morning.

The emergency response team took a 36-year-old man into custody at approximately 3:30 p.m. The arrest took place nearly 12 hours after Cpl. Jean-Rene Michaud was shot at 2:45 Wednesday morning when he approached a white Chrysler Intrepid at a traffic stop in Batchelor Heights Wednesday morning. 

Supt. Brad Mueller said the suspect was arrested without incident, but later added the investigation has been turned over to the Independent Investigations Office of B.C. as the suspect sustained an injury. The name of the suspect, who is known to police, has not been released as charges have not been laid.

"At this point in time we're confident that we've made the necessary arrest in this incident," Mueller said. He added as part of the investigation Mounties interviewed a number of people.

Local RCMP along with Southeast District Major Crimes spent much of the day searching for suspects. For a period of time, access to the Batchelor Heights neighbourhood was restricted. At an afternoon press conference, Mueller said a police presence will continue on Raven Drive and the southend of Grasslands Boulevard as the area is still being searched for evidence.

A 3:30 p.m. news release said media reports of arrests were "inaccurate," though several people had been witnessed being taken away in police cars. Thirty minutes later, police said they had a man in custody. Spokesperson RCMP Cpl. Cheryl Bush said police have "completed some evacuations of the affected area for public safety reasons." An evacuation centre has been set up at Interior Savings Centre. Schools in the area were also on lockdown. 

At a late morning press conference, Supt. Brad Mueller said the 40-year-old Michaud was in “critical but stable condition” after a successful surgery.

Mueller said at the time of the shooting near Batchelor Drive and North River Drive, Michaud, who has 13 years experience on the force, was wearing a full operational uniform including a bullet-proof vest and was driving a marked RCMP vehicle. A backup officer was called and once on scene returned fire, according to Mueller. The backup officer then attended the downed member and called the detachment for help.

“At the hospital (Royal Inland Hospital) earlier this morning I visited with his wife and family and our thoughts and prayers are with our colleague, his wife, his two young children and the rest of his family,” Mueller said.

Police were able to retrieve specific details about the incident from the injured officer, but at the time suspects remained at large while police continued an active investigation Mueller called “dynamic.”

“We’ve identified possible suspects and we’re exploring those avenues,” Mueller said. “We will see it through until we make that apprehension if that occurs today, if not we will continue until those arrests are made.”

The vehicle police were in search for is a white 1998 four-door Chrysler Intrepid with B.C. Licence plate AF765A. Mueller would not comment if the suspects or the vehicle was from Kamloops.

The emergency response team, RCMP helicopter, police dogs and serious crime units were deployed in search of suspects.

"I want to thank each of them for bringing this matter to a successful and safe conclusion," Mueller said.

Mueller said the registered owner of the vehicle was approached but would not comment further on who the individual was or if he or she was involved in the incident.

“That was the primary scene of the incident but our investigation will focus throughout the city where the evidence and intelligence takes us,” Mueller said. “We’ll be conducting our investigation throughout the various avenues of the city.”

Mueller said while officers remained vigilant, the public was advised of potential traffic stops or road blocks that could occur. As suspects were considered armed and dangerous, the public was advised not take any steps to approach the vehicle or any persons associated with it. 

Mueller said while members are solemn at the detachment, he has commended them on their professionalism while the situation continued to develop.

“They did what they had to do. People who don’t wear the uniform and don’t put their lives in danger every day don’t have a true understanding of what you go through in those types of situations," he said.

Police are looking for a car like this—a white 1998 Chrysler Intrepid—with B.C. licence plate AF765A. | Credit: CONTRIBUTED

Police blocked North River Drive to investigate the shooting of one of their own officers during a routine traffic stop Dec. 5, 2014. Jennifer Stahn

The crime scene in Batchelor Heights on Dec. 3, 2014 Jennifer Stahn

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To contact a reporter for this story, email Glynn Brothen at gbrothen@infonews.ca or call 250-319-7494. To contact an editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724

— This story has been updated numerous times throughout the day as information became available.

—This story was updated at 4:05 p.m. with information about the arrest.
 

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24 responses

  1. Prayers for a speedy recovery!!

  2. Lori Nielsen

    Happy to hear that you came through surgery, stay strong during your recovery, my thoughts and prayers for you, your family, and other RCMP members. Keep safe everyone.

  3. WHAT A WORLD WE LIVE IN….DOES IT GET ANY BETTER…JUST DOING HIS JOB…WOW.

  4. Rob F Hora

    Praying for you brother. God’s protection to those members looking for the loser who shot him and comfort to family members of the injured officer. (Reg# 36420 RCMP K Division).

  5. Cindy D Thomson

    WISH THE GOVERNMENT WOULD QUIT DOING CUT BACKS ON OUR POLICE FORCES, THEY SHOULD BE RIDING WITH A PARTNER AT ALL TIMES…BE SAFE ALL OFFICERS TRYING TO PROTECT US ALL.

  6. Hope the Member has a quick recovery. I hope that the suspect is caught soon.

  7. Happens in the USA as well as Canada.. Our thoughts are with the officer. Police are constantly criticized about the way they conduct their job but try slipping their shoes on for a few minutes it is only then that we can thoroughly understand.

  8. Is this true? With all these flase flag like ottawa shooting .

  9. Dawn Maillot

    Thoughts and prayers for this officer, his family and co-workers.

  10. Judy Stotz

    Best wishes for a speedy recovery and comforting thoughts going out to this officer and his family. Extreme gratitude for putting yourself out there to protect and keep us safe. Thank you to all RCMP officers and civilian police force members for dedicating your lives to keeping us safe.

  11. Phyllis Kailek

    I hope the shooter gets caught, wishing the officer a speedy recovery, soo glad it wasn’t fatal.

  12. Robin Welch DeWolf

    Thoughts and prayers to the officer who was shot, his family and his co-workers.Hoping also for a quick apprehension of the suspect(s).

  13. prayers for a speedy recovery.

  14. Thoughts and prayers with officer, his family and co workers.Keep safe

  15. Dianne Dirksen

    Our prayers go out to him, his family and fellow officers.

  16. Thoughts and prayers are with the officer and all officers and their families.

  17. Julie Port

    Thoughts and prayers for the Officer and his family/friends. Prayers also to the Officers searching for this culprit! Stay safe and catch the offender soon.

  18. Gail Paton

    praying for recovery and for family…what a horrible situation. The criminal element in Kamloops is growing unfortunately but I never would have expected this.

  19. Positive thoughts, energy and prayers for the officer and family /colleagues.

  20. Isobel Sanderson

    Our thoughts and prayers go out to officer down and family members and his co- workers. Stay safe out there all you RCMP members out there ,you all have a tough job

  21. Pat Dickie

    From Moncton NBThoughts are with the member and his colleagues.

  22. We sure the officer recovers fast, our thoughts are wit the officer, co-workers and family.

  23. Hoping for a speedy recovery and quick apprehension of the suspect(s).

  24. sad to hear an officer getting hurt…but…its a cause and effect situation…you got cops who are now mindless terminators thining they are gods with a licence to murder and plunder in the name of some corporations, harassing otherwise peaceful law abiding people putting them under extreme pressure, taking away their license for minor infractions…of course people are going to wig out and fucking “loose it” so go ahead…keep coming with the unconstitutional legislation….keep turning peace officers into policy enforcers….the shit is going to get worse before it gets better. there is never an excuse to be violent…but sometimes people who don’t know any better loose it when their life is effected dramatically…and for good reason. now isn’t this a good example of making every cop wear a camera?

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Marshall Jones

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