Police draw guns as spike belt used to stop vehicle on Highway 1 between Sicamous and Revelstoke

Photo: Contributed

UPDATE: 3:25 p.m.

RCMP say the driver of an Alberta registered vehicle is in police custody after fleeing from BC Highway Patrol Tuesday morning near Salmon Arm and threatening officers with a blow torch near Revelstoke.

Staff Sgt. Scott West says about 9:30 a.m. the driver took off and was spotted on the Trans-Canada Highway driving dangerously.

The vehicle evaded a spike belt in Canoe and continued east to Sicamous, where it proceeded to turn off the highway.

It then struck a police cruiser and fled back on Highway 1 towards Revelstoke.

It was finally brought to stop near the Perry River Bridge after a spike belt deflated all four tires.

The suspect driver then threatened officers with a blow torch, but was taken into custody a short time later without injury.

Police had weapons pulled during the altercation and the highway was briefly shut down to ensure public safety.

The 48-year-old driver is suspended from driving in Alberta and faces a number of new charges stemming from the incident.

The accused is awaiting a bail hearing.

ORIGINAL: Noon

Police had guns drawn in a tense incident on the Trans-Canada Highway between Sicamous and Revelstoke this morning.

Photos from the scene near Griffin Lake, west of Three Valley Gap, show multiple police units boxing in a vehicle.

Officers had their service pistols drawn.

Witnesses say police deployed spike belt to stop an eastbound vehicle.

Cpl. Mike Halskov with the BC Highway Patrol says the file originated with Salmon Arm RCMP following an incident in the Canoe area.

One person has been taken into custody.