WATCH: An officer was injured and two police cars were destroyed in an incident on Salt Spring Island. Video courtesy Kyle Matheson.
The province’s police watchdog is investigating an incident on Salt Spring Island Saturday morning.
It happened shortly after midnight in the 100-block of Upper Ganges Road.
Police say an officer was sustained neck and back injuries and two police cruisers were destroyed when a suspect tried to avoid a counterattack roadblock.
One police car was rammed head-on.
Officers approached the SUV, smashing out the driver’s side window in an attempt to gain control of the suspect.
A second police SUV tried to box the suspect’s Chevy Blazer in, but it too was rammed as the suspect drove back and forth.
The driver then fled the scene.
A third police vehicle followed the suspect vehicle, locating it a short distance away, upside-down in the ditch.
Police say the suspect then produced an axe and tried to light himself on fire.
He was finally apprehended under the mental health act and taken to hospital.
While this investigation is in its early stages, officers have determined that the truck driven by the suspect was stolen.
His motive is unknown and charges have not yet been laid.
Police ask anyone who witnessed this incident to contact the Salt Spring Island RCMP at 250-537-5555.
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