Wounded officer awake, speaking

NEWS/ POLICE — The Kamloops RCMP officer shot during an early-morning traffic stop last week remains in intensive care but is awake and able to speak to his family.

Cpl. Jean Rene Michaud was shot during an incident in Batchelor Heights at 2:45 a.m. last Wednesday, prompting a 12-hour manhunt that ended in the arrest of a suspect who is charged with attempted murder.

“His medical progress is very uplifting news for his family, colleagues, and the community as a whole,” Cpl. Cheryl Bush said Monday.

“Fellow RCMP officers from across the country, colleagues in Kamloops and the general public have been incredibly generous with their well wishes and contributions to the Michaud family during this difficult time.”

She said the Kamloops RCMP Major Crimes Unit continues its investigation. Although other arrests were made during the initial investigation, Kenneth Michael Knutson remains the only individual charged directly in relation to the shooting of Cpl. Michaud.