UPDATE: Police outline details of incident that closed down the Coquihalla

UPDATE: 10 a.m. Nov. 24

RCMP have released details on the incident that shut down the Coquihalla Highway for several hours between Merritt and Hope Wednesday afternoon.

Police say around 12:15 p.m., members of the BC Highway Patrol, along with the Uniform Gang Enforcement Team and Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of BC, tried to stop a stolen black Dodge Ram pickup truck near the Summit, but the vehicle fled down a side road, got stuck and three occupants got out and ran, one who appeared to have a gun.

One woman was arrested soon after, but two male suspects remained at large.

Over a dozen construction workers at a nearby worksite were evacuated as they were in close proximity to the last known sighting of the suspects.

“Out of an abundance of caution, the highway was closed for several hours while we searched the area for these suspects,” said Sgt. Josh Roda, detachment commander with Merritt RCMP. “Without knowing their identities or their intentions, and reports indicating they were armed, we felt it was best to keep all members of the public from the scene.”

The two men were located and arrested without incident after several hours of searching, and the highway reopened before 7 p.m.

Over a dozen construction workers at a nearby worksite were evacuated as they were in close proximity to the last know sighting of the suspects.

The investigation showed the black Dodge Ram 2500 was stolen out of Coquitlam and the licence plate attached to the vehicle was stolen out of Langley.

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Police say despite online speculation, there is no indication these suspects are related to recent high-profile events in Merritt or in the Lower Mainland.

Merritt RCMP is asking any witnesses with dash-camera video or those that were near the area of Juliet Bridge, just south of Merritt near the Coquihalla summit between 11:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. on Nov. 23 to call the Merritt RCMP at 250-378-4262.

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Coquihalla Highway reopens after police incident
Nov. 23, 2022

UPDATE: 7 p.m.

RCMP say the active an unfolding police incident that closed the Coquihalla Highway #5 north of Hope, and south of Merritt this afternoon has ended.

Police are advising drivers that the highway is now open in both directions.

The incident that caused police to require the highway closure has come to a conclusion and we thank all motorists for their patience said Sergeant Chris Manseau, media relations officer for the BC RCMP The investigation into the need for the closure remains active and ongoing, and the public can anticipate seeing a marked increase in police vehicles in the area

There will be no further updates this evening, however the RCMP is committed to releasing more details tomorrow.

The Merritt RCMP is asking any witnesses or anyone who was near the area of Juliet Bridge, just south of Merritt near the Coquihalla summit between 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. on November 23 with dash-camera video and have not yet spoken to police, please call the Merritt RCMP at 250-378-4262.

(Vernon Matters Staff)

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UPDATE: 3:45 p.m.

Police incident closes Coquihalla

RCMP say motorists should expect the Coquihalla Highway to be closed “for the next few hours” due to an active and unfolding police incident.

In a news release, B.C. RCMP spokesman Sgt. Chris Manseau said no public or commercial vehicles are being allowed through due to an incident near the area of Juliet Bridge south of Merritt near the Coquihalla Summit.

Manseau says a “large number of policing resources from surrounding areas” are responding to the incident.

The public is being asked to avoid the area and avoid posting any police actions online.

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Earlier story:

A police incident has closed the Coquihalla Highway in both directions between Hope and Merritt Wednesday afternoon (Nov. 23).

There are no details yet as to what is taking place, but traffic is backing up southbound around Larson Hill.

There’s no word when it might reopen, but Drive BC says its next update will be sent at 4:00 p.m.