British Columbia’s civilian police watchdog has assumed conduct of an investigation into an officer-involved shooting that left a man seriously injured during a search-warrant operation near Salmo.
What happened
According to a Sept. 4 statement from the BC RCMP, members of the RCMP Southeast District Emergency Response Team were assisting Creston RCMP in executing a search warrant on Ski Hill Road on Sept. 3 at approximately 10:11 a.m. while the incident unfolded.
Officers encountered a man on the property who, after being told he was under arrest, fled into a travel trailer. RCMP said officers used "multiple de-escalation measures" over the course of the morning in an attempt to get the man to leave the trailer, but those measures were unsuccessful.
"At one point, an officer observed the man at the entrance of the trailer appearing to hold a weapon. As a result, the officer discharged their firearm."
RCMP said the man retreated back into the trailer and later exited nearly an hour after the discharge without further incident. He was taken into custody, provided immediate medical care by officers and transported to a local hospital, then later flown by air ambulance to another hospital for further treatment.
Independent oversight and evidence requests
The RCMP notified the Independent Investigations Office of B.C. (IIO), the civilian agency charged with probing incidents involving police that result in serious harm or death. The IIO has assumed conduct of the investigation into police actions related to the incident and the surrounding area has been secured to support evidence collection.
The IIO is seeking witnesses to the incident and any video footage, including recordings from cellphones. Because the matter is now under the IIO's jurisdiction, RCMP said they will not release further information while that investigation is underway.
Community and procedural context
Officer-involved shootings in rural and small-town settings like those around Salmo typically draw intense local scrutiny because of the close community connections and the limited number of independent observers. The IIO’s involvement means that investigators will examine the circumstances of the shooting and whether police actions were consistent with law and policy.
Several features of this incident are central to the IIO's likely review: the use of an Emergency Response Team in support of a warrant, the decision to remain outside and attempt de-escalation over an extended period, the observation of a potential weapon at the trailer entrance and the officer’s decision to fire.
- Date and time: Sept. 3, about 10:11 a.m. — warrant execution and initial encounter.
- Location: Ski Hill Road, near Salmo — private property where a travel trailer was involved.
- Units involved: RCMP Southeast District Emergency Response Team assisting Creston RCMP.
- Outcome: One man seriously injured, taken into custody and transported to hospital; IIO assuming investigation.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Initial police action | Execution of search warrant |
| Time of incident | Approx. 10:11 a.m., Sept. 3 |
| Injuries | Serious; transported by air ambulance to another hospital |
What witnesses should know
The IIO has asked anyone who witnessed the event, or who may have captured video — whether from dash-cams, security cameras or cellphones — to come forward. Witness accounts and footage can be crucial in recreating the sequence of events and establishing what led to the discharge of a police firearm.
Because RCMP have deferred comment to the IIO, residents and media in the region can expect updates only from the Independent Investigations Office as the probe progresses. The IIO typically releases information on its investigations in accordance with its statutory obligations and when doing so would not compromise the integrity of the inquiry.
As the investigation continues, the facts confirmed so far underscore the complex judgment calls police face when executing warrants and encountering potentially armed people in confined spaces such as trailers. The IIO’s review will examine those decisions in detail and determine whether further actions are warranted.
Local residents who have information or footage are asked to contact the IIO directly; the RCMP have said no additional details will be released while the independent investigation is underway.
