Prince George school trustee Erica McLean says she has been on an “emotional roller-coaster” since being ordered out of her vehicle at gunpoint by police and handcuffed.
R-C-M-P said there had been a case of mistaken identity on Tuesday but it was “quickly determined” that the driver they had detained was not who they were looking for, and the person was released.
McLean says she understands her car looks similar to the vehicle police were looking for, but she has many questions about the show of force used against her.
Two suspects from Dawson Creek and one from Fort St. John were among five people arrested in connection with the alleged theft of a vehicle that looked similar to McLean’s.
Police say the suspects allegedly stole a vehicle before breaking into a home.
Mounties say a Volkswagen was driving dangerously on Highway 97 at 1:30 pm Wednesday.
The vehicle was first seen near Bear Lake, south of the Pass Pine area, travelling at high speed toward Prince George.
“Multiple attempts were made to stop the vehicle, including a spike belt that deflated two tires,” said BC Highway Patrol.
At about 3 pm, the Volkswagen came to a stop when it reached Nielson Road in Prince George.
“When the vehicle stopped, five occupants ran away, with two of them allegedly breaking into a home while a resident was inside,” says Corporal Michael McLaughlin of BC Highway Patrol.
Police say all five suspects were quickly arrested and are being held in custody. The vehicle and the Alberta licence plates were reported stolen.
“The suspects include a 27-year-old Fort St. John man, a 35-year-old Dawson Creek man, a 30-year-old Dawson Creek woman, and a 26-year-old man and a 28-year-old man of no fixed address,” BC Highway Patrol noted.
Police say one suspect suffered minor injuries related to an arrest with a police dog.
“As it was believed that the occupants of the vehicle would be associated to a known crime group, our police officers followed their training for what they determined to be a high-risk vehicle stop, which includes using police vehicles to prevent movement of the suspect vehicle and engaging the occupants, in this instance a lone driver, with their firearms drawn,” states Corporal Jennifer Cooper, Media Relations Officer for the Prince George RCMP.
It was quickly determined that the driver and the vehicle involved in this stop were not those that police officers were searching for; the driver was immediately released from police custody.
“We have been in contact with the driver several times since this incident occurred,” states Sergeant Dan Morris, Commander of the Street Crew Unit. “We have had the opportunity to explain what occurred to lead our police officers to believe hers was the vehicle we were looking for and have offered support from our Victim Services Unit and our detachment.”
McLean says it’s her responsibility as an elected official, an Indigenous woman, and community leader to seek answers about what happened.
With files from The Canadian Press