By The Canadian Press
PORTAGE LA PRAIRIE, Man. – Manitoba RCMP say an officer shot a suspect after pursuing an erratic driver west of Winnipeg.
Sgt. Bert Paquet says the officer got a report of a potentially dangerous driver and quickly spotted the vehicle near Portage la Prairie.
Paquet says the driver — a 30-year-old Winnipeg man — refused to pull over and had to be stopped by the RCMP vehicle.
He says shortly after the Mountie shot the driver, who suffered non-life threatening injuries and was taken to hospital.
The officer wasn’t hurt.
Paquet wouldn’t say what prompted the shooting but says a firearm was found in the suspect’s car.
“This is a worst-case scenario for any of us,” Paquet said Thursday. “Starting a shift, you do not expect to use your firearm.
“It is always the last thing you want to do but there are some situations that just dictate a response like this.”
The shooting is being reviewed by the Independent Investigation Unit of Manitoba.
Paquet said RCMP have not yet laid charges against the driver.
