Sylvan Lake RCMP says one of its members fired his service pistol Saturday, sending a suspected thief to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Police say they were called to a possible battery theft at an oilfield site in Eckville at approximately 8:15 a.m.
After arriving at 54th Avenue, the officer spotted a male suspect asleep in his truck with a sledgehammer and a large can of bear spray on the front seat.
The RCMP member placed a spike belt out and waited for back up.
A confrontation occurred with the suspect and the RCMP member fired his pistol.
The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team, which deals with all serious cases involving the police, is investigating.