One person is in custody following an assault with a weapon in the Seabird Island (Sq'茅wqel) community.
On Monday, Dec. 16, at about 10 a.m., the Agassiz RCMP located a man who had been seriously injured and physically assaulted. He was transported to hospital by ambulance as officers quickly identified a suspect, who had fled on foot and was believed to possess a weapon.
Seabird Island was on lockdown for about four hours as local RCMP officers searched for an armed suspect.
At about 11:30 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 18, a police incident in progress promoted officials to see to it that all Seabird Island facilities were locked and residents 鈥� particularly on Sth铆:tsem Road 鈥� were warned to stay indoors and away from windows. The lockdown affected two schools and the band office
According to Seabird Island officials, K-9 units assisted the RCMP in tracking down a suspect. The lockdown was lifted at about 2:30 p.m. after the situation was "localized," according to Seabird Island officials. At about 3:30 p.m., Seabird Island official announced the RCMP apprehended the suspect.
"The quick and coordinated actions of our frontline members, along with Indigenous Policing Service (IPS), Integrated Police Dog Service (IPDS), BC Highway Patrol, and Lower Mainland Integrated Emergency Response Team (IERT), ensured the safety of the community and brought this situation to a safe resolution," said Agassiz RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Chad Raymond.
The incident in the Seabird Island community came only four days after a similar incident in nearby Agassiz, which also ended with a suspect 鈥� also armed and allegedly involved in an assault incident earlier that day 鈥� being arrested. The RCMP have stated there will be no information released about any charges the individual involved in the Agassiz incident. According to the RCMP, this was an isolated incident and there is no further risk to the public.
