A Blackfalds RCMP officer fired his gun after getting into a violent altercation with three men he had stopped to help.
They then stole his police vehicle.
Police said they were responding to a 5:30 a.m. single-vehicle collision at Highway 596 and Range Road 10, about 12 kilometres west of Red Deer, when an officer came across a second vehicle in the ditch.
“The officer stopped to see if they required assistance,” said police. “While speaking with the males, a physical confrontation ensued. During the confrontation, the officer discharged their service firearm.
“The males proceeded to steal the police vehicle and fled.
“The officer suffered minor injuries during the confrontation.”
The police vehicle was found abandoned in a field near Highway 11.
Officers from area detachments descended on the scene and arrested three suspects, who had fled on foot.
One of the suspects was suffering from a non-life-threatening injury “as a result of the confrontation” and was taken to Red Deer hospital.
“The director of law enforcement has been notified and the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team has been directed to investigate the circumstances surrounding the officer-involved shooting and the actions of police,” said RCMP.