POLICE – Man in custody after officer sprayed with bear repellant

An RCMP officer and a man wanted for breach of probation exchanged defensive sprays today (July 12, 2018) in an encounter on the beach near the Thompson River.

Police say a 26-year-old suspect was approached by the officer at 9 a.m. and told him he was under arrest. The man took off with the officer giving chase.

At one point, the man turned and bear-sprayed the officer in the face.  The foot chase continued where the officer was able to catch the man in the 200 block of Tranquille Road.

“At this point the officer dispersed his own oleoresin capsicum (OC) spray on the suspect and subdued him.  Other police officers soon attended the area and took the male into custody.”

Bear spray and pepper spray are similar but not the same. Both contain oleoresin capsaicin derived from cayenne peppers but bear spray contains a lower concentration.

Traffic on Tranquille Road was temporarily delayed in the area while BC Ambulance gave medical attention to both the officer and the suspect.  Neither received any injuries.

The suspect is from Kamloops.