An early-morning traffic stop near Berwick, N.S. resulted in a shooting and a chase through the woods for a suspect, according to police.
RCMP say a member of the Kings District RCMP stopped a vehicle at 4:05 a.m. Tuesday on Highway 101 at the Exit 15 on-ramp.
The vehicle was headed west and was being stopped for a Motor Vehicle Act offence.
“There was an interaction between the driver and the police officer, involving the discharge of a firearm,” said RCMP in a news release.
RCMP say their officer was not hurt and immediately called for backup, while the driver fled into a wooded area.
Meanwhile, the 20-year-old male passenger stayed inside the vehicle and was arrested without incident and held for custody.
The RCMP Emergency Response Team was called, as well as the police dog service and air services. Police shut down the highway between exits 15 and 16 so they could contain the area.
RCMP say the 26-year-old driver was eventually located and arrested. Police noticed the suspect had a non-life-threatening injury, so he was taken to hospital for treatment.
“Pending medical treatment, the suspect will be held in custody for a court appearance in Kentville Provincial Court,” the release read.
It’s expected that stretch of highway will remain closed for most of the day, as investigators collect evidence.
Throughout the morning, police released few details about the incident, only calling it an “unfolding situation.”
At 8:12 a.m., RCMP tweeted that “there is no risk to the public regarding the situation” but did not explain what was happening.
The province’s Serious Incident Response Team (SiRT), which investigates all serious incidents involving police in Nova Scotia, confirms they are investigating this situation.
SiRT’s director Felix Cacchione says they were called shortly before 7 a.m. and have sent a team of investigators to the scene.
“The affected party has been released from hospital and is in police custody. I’m not aware of the nature of the injury or its cause at this stage,” he said.
He says the team’s mandate is to look into “serious incidents” between police and civilians that involve injuries, but he was unable to provide further details about this particular incident.
Annapolis Valley Regional Centre for Education closed Somerset and District Elementary School for the day.