A number of RCMP vehicles are seen south of Battleford on Highway 4, which is closed as police deal with an incident.

By Tyler Marr

Man wanted on Canada wide warrant arrested after pursuit, exchanging fire with RCMP

Mar 22, 2019 | 9:46 AM

A man wanted on a Canada wide warrant was taken into custody without incident last night after being chased and exchanging fire with police.

RCMP said they were called to a complaint of an erratic driver on Highway 4 south of the town at around 7: 15 p.m.

While responding, they were advised the driver was wanted on a Canada Wide Warrant for parole violations.

Officers attempted to stop the vehicle but it fled and a pursuit ensued along grid roads and onto Highway 4 heading north into Battleford.

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Officers successfully deployed a spike belt and stopped the vehicle, but the driver then shot at an officer, who returned fire.

At this point, the police saw there were other people in the vehicle.

The vehicle then fled and officers started to pursue it again and managed to stop it a second time. The occupants fled the vehicle along with the suspect with the firearm.

Police set up a containment area on the south side of the Battle River, closing Highway 4 for several hours, and called in assistance from specialized RCMP units to help search for the suspect, including Saskatoon Police Service Air 1.

But the suspect and the other people in the vehicle managed to get a ride from an unsuspecting member of the public.

After a further search and a traffic stop on Highway 29 just south of Battleford, the suspect was taken into custody without incident.

There were no injuries reported.

One person who was driving south of Battleford at around 8:40 p.m. witnessed the police chase.

She said she was driving up the hill and saw a van coming towards them with no lights, just sparks from the rims.

She pulled over as is passed by at about 20 km/h.

“The windows were missing and the door was missing,” she said. “I was shocked.”

She said she has never witnessed anything like this before and noted it will be a “sleepless night, for sure.”

The investigation remains ongoing and police say residents will likely see an increased number of police officers in the area due to the investigation.

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tyler.marr@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @JournoMarr