People wait to leave Revelstoke via Townley Street while RCMP search for a suspect in a murder and police shooting in Johnson Heights. Photo by Alex Cooper/Revelstoke Review
UPDATE: Revelstoke mayor Mark McKee has confirmed Mr. Thunderblanket was apprehended near Revelstoke and is in police custody. Check www.columbiavalleypioneer.com for updates during the coming week.
UPDATE 11:20 a.m. Wednesday: RCMP have confirmed a suspect in the officer shooting case has been located. No further details have been provided yet.
Original story below:
The search continues in Revelstoke on Wednesday for a man wanted in connection with the shooting of an RCMP officer near Golden on Tuesday, and who police say is a suspect in a murder in Saskatchewan.
RCMP said on Wednesday morning they were looking for Sheldon Kyle Thunderblanket, who is considered armed and dangerous. A warrant is out for his arrest in connection with a murder in Little Pine First Nation, Saskatchewan, on Monday night.
He is described as an aboriginal male, about 5’6″ tall, 209 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. Anyone that sees him is asked to contact police by dialing 911 immediately.
The search was focused on Revelstoke’s Johnson Heights neighbourhood, near where the man’s vehicle was found.
The massive search was launched after a police officer was shot while conducting a police stop about 25 kilometres west of Golden on Tuesday afternoon. The officer experienced non-life-threatening injuries and the suspect fled westbound in another stolen vehicle.
The officer is recovering in hospital.
Police said they found the suspect’s vehicle about three kilometres east of Revelstoke. They launched a major search with helicopters, dogs and tactical teams but by nightfall the man was still at large. As of this morning, there was no news on the search.
The Trans-Canada Highway was closed following the incident and people were stopped for more than four hours until it was re-opened. Even then, travellers had to wait for hours while police searched every vehicle while they passed check stops set up on the highway.
