Penticton Mountie injured checking on passed out driver who had sawed-off shotgun in lap

A Penticton Mountie was injured after officers woke a passed out driver who had a loaded sawed-off shotgun in his lap and attempted to flee.

The incident happened on Feb. 1 around 1 p.m. when an officer noticed an older model Toyota Camry parked in the 200 block of Lower Moorpark Drive in Penticton with a man passed out at the wheel, according to an RCMP media release. The officer recognized the vehicle as one that had gotten away from police a week previous.

Several officers attended the scene and blocked the vehicle, but when officers woke the man, he refused to comply with their orders, started the vehicle and aggressively reversed into a police car, striking an officer while doing so.

Police pulled the man from the vehicle, finding a loaded sawed-off shotgun beside the driver. The vehicle also contained several stolen out of province license plates.

"This is another incident of the extremely dangerous actions some take to avoid capture," police spokesperson Sgt. Jason Bayda said in a press release. "It is far too often our officers are faced with those willing to injure police simply to get away.”

A 22-year-old Penticton man faces potential firearms, property and assault charges. He was released from custody and is expected to make a court appearance on April 21.

The injured officer remains on duty.

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