Three kidnaping suspects arrested in Merritt: RCMP

The RCMP logo is seen outside Royal Canadian Mounted Police "E" Division Headquarters, in Surrey, B.C., on Friday April 13, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

By Emily Marsten

Posted November 19, 2022 7:59 pm.

Merritt RCMP have arrested and charged three suspects involved in a kidnapping.

On Friday afternoon around 1 p.m., Mounties say officers heard a gun shot near Priest Ave. and Vough Street and spotted a dark coloured sedan speeding away from the area.

The vehicle was found a few blocks away at a home on Nicola Ave. According to police, the South East District Emergency Response Team was called help Mounties ‘clear’ the residence.

When officers surrounded the home, the suspects tried to run away, but were caught and arrested.

Braeden Shane Drake, Mark Ethan Giesbrecht, and William Joseph Lavoie have been charged with hostage taking with a firearm, and entering a dwelling house without lawful excuse to commit an indictable offence.

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Mounties say the kidnapping victim was found by police and wasn’t hurt.

This incident comes after multiple shootings were reported on Tuesday.

“There has been a brazen disregard for public safety recently in our community, and having these individuals off our streets will hopefully restore a sense of security back to the community…We want to thank the public for their patience as we worked diligently to mitigate any further risk,” Sgt. Josh Roda explained.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Merritt RCMP at 250-378-4262.

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