Alberta RCMP has released details on a police incident that occurred late on Friday night and into Saturday morning which shut down a portion of the QEII north of Airdrie, near Carstairs.

According to police, The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team will be investigating the incident after police and the suspect exchanged gunfire, though no injuries to either the suspect, the public, or police were reported.

Mounties said that late on Friday evening, at approximately 11:40, they were notified by the Calgary Police Service (CPS) that a suspect had previously fled from police and was being covertly followed by a HAWCS helicopter.

"The Alberta RCMP Real Time Operations Centre (RTOC) assumed responsibility of the incident to ensure efficient communications and a coordinated, joint response. Under RTOC, officers from CPS as well as RCMP from Airdrie, Didsbury, Olds and Sundre set up a covert tire deflation device and were successful in disabling the vehicle on the QEII Highway near Highway 581," police stated in a news release.

A traffic stop was conducted and there was an exchange of gunfire between the suspect.

"Police were able to disengage from the suspect and set up containment. RCMP made verbal contact with the suspect and successfully de-escalated the incident. The suspect surrendered to police."

There were no injuries suffered to members of the public, officers or the suspect during this incident. 

"The Alberta RCMP are thankful for the eventual outcome of this incident, demonstrating effective police intervention in high-risk situations for which officers are highly trained. This was also an excellent example of cooperation between multiple units of two police services."

Police noted that 'despite this, events like this are difficult for the communities in which they occur, as well as the general public and officers involved.'

"Police recognize the trust placed in them to use force that is necessary, proportional and reasonable and in so doing remain fully accountable."

In compliance with legislative requirements, the Director of Law Enforcement was immediately notified causing the deployment of ASIRT to oversee the investigations into this incident. 

"The RCMP believes in accountability and transparency and in so doing will provide full support to the ASIRT investigators.  Independent of ASIRT’s investigation, the RCMP’s and CPS’s internal review processes have been implemented to gather a full account of what took place during this incident, including Police training, policy, and response."

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