UPDATE: Man charged with attempted murder of RCMP officer in northwest Sask.
A Mountie was shot in Saskatchewan on Tuesday while investigating an alleged erratic driver.
RCMP said they were called to multiple reports of a possible impaired driver who was reportedly driving at high rates of speed at roughly 7:35 a.m.
Over several hours, officers spotted the suspect vehicle but were not able to successfully stop it, police said.
Just after 10:30 a.m., the vehicle was stopped just outside of Mervin, Sask.
As two officers approached the vehicle, police said one of them sustained an injury from a gunshot wound.
“Officers at the scene discharged their firearms,” assistant commissioner Mark Fisher, commanding officer of the Saskatchewan RCMP, said at a press conference on Tuesday.
WATCH: RCMP say officer injured in shooting released from hospital
The officer’s injury is believed to be serious, but non-life-threatening, and the individual was taken to hospital in Turtleford. Fisher believes the officer has since been released from hospital.
The lone occupant of the suspect vehicle was arrested. He was taken to hospital for what are believed to be non-life-threatening injuries, according to a press release. Fisher believes the man was later transferred to Saskatoon.
The nature of the man’s injuries was not disclosed by RCMP.
No charges have been laid at this time and the man’s name not released.
“Your heart sinks, would be the first reaction I would say. You’re worried for them. You’re worried for their families. That would be the first reaction,” Fisher said.
“These are incidents that stick in your mind whenever they happen, wherever they happen. Whether they are in your province or in another jurisdiction or for that matter with another police service, you work closely with. These incidents have a significant impact on the law enforcement family as a whole and obviously all of our extended families.”
Fisher said he believes at this time that the two corporals involved were travelling in separate vehicles.
RCMP have requested an independent, external investigation and it’s being conducted by the Regina Police Service.
Mervin is approximately 220 kilometres northwest of Saskatoon.
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