Times-Chronicle Staff

Bullet holes in a police vehicle, a truck set on fire in downtown Oliver, and an arson at a local business . . . what next?

That’s what RCMP are wondering as they continue to investigate a bizarre set of events in the early morning hours of Saturday, May 15.

The Oliver RCMP began the day with reports of gun shots coming from a property west of town at approximately 3 a.m. Police attended the location and found a group of people having a party at a local residence. A search through the home found no evidence of firearms or shooting and there were no reported injuries, according to police.

An hour later police officers were inside the Oliver RCMP detachment when they heard several loud bangs coming from the parking lot.

“A Ford Ranger pickup was observed leaving the area at a high rate of speed,” said Sgt. Don Wrigglesworth. Minutes later, a vehicle was reported to be on fire in a parking lot (near Subway) at Fairview Road and Main Street.

Wrigglesworth said the Ford Ranger at this site is believed to have been the same vehicle seen leaving the vicinity of the detachment.

While attending the vehicle fire with the Oliver Fire Department, RCMP received another arson report from a nearby pharmacy (Remedy’sRX) on Fairview Road. “A suspect had broken in, lit items on fire and departed,” Wrigglesworth said.

It was not until daylight that officers noted damage consistent with bullet holes in the rear trunk area of a police vehicle. Since then, officers have been working diligently to obtain video surveillance from local businesses.

This is a matter that is very concerning to me as the Oliver detachment commander,” Wrigglesworth said. “When an individual decides to bring this level of violence and destruction to our community, all resources will be utilized to see that they are held accountable. Thankfully there were no injuries and there is no indication that any specific police officer was targeted.”

If you have any information or video evidence to assist in this investigation, please call the Oliver RCMP and Cpl. Paul Symons at 250-498-4324.