A man is in custody after a nearly 12-hour manhunt that started in Dawson Creek and ended near One Island Lake.
Dawson Creek RCMP said that a dispute occurred at Rockwell’s Pub shortly after 2am on Sunday. Police allege that after more alcohol and drugs were consumed, the dispute carried over to a private residence.
Officers were called to the scene, after a report that a male allegedly rammed another vehicle in front of the home. Police allege the man then fled the scene at a high rate of speed and was intoxicated behind the wheel. Mounties broke off the pursuit in the interest of public safety.
According to police, the male claimed to have a shot gun and was threatening to kill himself. The man’s vehicle was found abandoned in a ditch near One Island Lake at around 5:30am. Police said that he ran into a heavily wooded area.
The Emergency Response Team (ERT) in Prince George was called in to assist with the search. The Yukon ERT was also flown in to help search for the man. Containment was set up and the search involving a police helicopter, a drone and the K-9 unit, began.
Highway 52 was closed as the search for the man continued. Almost 12 hours later, the male suspect was located in front of a home that he had allegedly broken into. He surrendered peacefully and was taken into police custody. Mounties said that shots were not fired at any point during their pursuit of the suspect.
Police are recommending charges of break and enter, flight from police, mischief over $5000, failure to stop after an accident and breach of a release order.
The suspect cannot be named until charges have been sworn. The man remains in custody pending a bail hearing.