High-risk police operation ends with one man arrested in Kamloops, B.C.

KAMLOOPS, B.C. – Gunfire was exchanged between officers and a suspect during a confrontation at a Kamloops, B.C., trailer park, the RCMP said on Saturday.

Cpl. Jodi Shelkie said there was a significant police presence at the G & M Trailer Park on Friday, in an incident involving a suspect who was believed to be armed.

A nearby elementary school and businesses were shut down as a result. Despite the gunfire, RCMP said the stand-off ended peacefully with one man arrested early Saturday morning.

Police said the 35-year-old suspect remains in custody and is “facing an array of potential charges.”

The man is known to police, and is scheduled to appear in court Oct. 30.

Shelkie said the trailer park remained closed for a police investigation on Saturday, but surrounding streets were re-opened.

The incident began early Friday morning when police were called about an assault at a residence.

Mounties said the suspect had an altercation with officers who responded to the call. The suspect then fled the area with “a high-powered rifle.”

Gunfire was exchanged at the trailer park before the suspect went into one of the residences, police said.

Mounties instructed parents not to pick up their children from a nearby elementary school, and instead Shelkie said students would be bused to a local bridge where parents could pick them up.

Residents of the trailer park were told to remain inside and to lock their doors and windows.

Nicole Calver, a receptionist at the First Nations Tax Commission, said she heard sirens at about 11 a.m. Friday and looked out the window to see about 15 RCMP vehicles head into a trailer park across the street.

“That’s where we saw the squad vehicle ram a green truck,” she said. “We did hear, we did witness six gunshots and we saw people running around, I think a squad team … running around the trailer park after that.”

Police said no one is believed to have been injured during the course of the incident and are thanking the public for complying with safety measures and area restrictions.

“We want to thank the residents and management of G & M Trailer Park very much for their cooperation, patience and assistance during this stressful event,”Shelkie said in a news release, adding that thanks extends to area drivers as well. “We are well aware of the impact of shutting down major roads, and we only took that step in this instance to ensure public safety as the suspect was in possession of a high-powered rifle.”