BREAKING: Police name Slocan gunman, use armoured vehicle to extricate residents
By Castlegar Source
Police have released the name of the gunman who has inspired a manhunt so intense as to draw ERT teams, police service dogs and even an armoured vehicle to the tiny village of Slocan City (pop. about 330).
Forty-five-year-old Peter DeGroot, of Slocan, is still at large and considered armed and dangerous, but police have established a containment area and are asking the public not to venture into any cordoned-off area, but instead to remain indoors. If anyone sees DeGroot they are cautioned against approaching him – call 9-1-1 instead.
“Over the last 12 hours, the Southeast District Emergency Response Team (Canada’s version of a SWAT team) was successful in evacuating homes,” said Chief Superintendent Frank Smart, District Commander for the RCMP Southeast District. “As well, they safely extricated our member and some residents using our Tactical Armoured Vehicle within the containment zone overnight. Police were also able to search the suspect’s residence, which resulted in the seizure of a number of firearms.
I thank the residents of Slocan for their patience and cooperation during this tense situation. Your safety is our primary concern, Smart added. The situation is being continually assessed and I remain committed to providing information when I can.
Additional resources including air support, the Southeast District Emergency Response Team, crisis negotiator, police dogs and Tactical Armoured Vehicle were deployed to the scene. Adequate resources have responded and will continue to do so until the situation is resolved.
With the return of sufficient light to the area we hope to bring this fluid and unfolding event to a quick and safe resolution, said Smart. We respect that there has been a lot of police activity over the past 24 hours and that will continue today. We once again ask for the continued support of the public and the media by not discussing police movements and positioning on social media.
Previous coverage at: https://castlegarsource.com/news/updated-gunman-still-large-residents-being-asked-stay-indoors-school-still-evacuated-33764#.VDgZSVefZqw
