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Men arrested after shots fired at DFO officers

Officers from the Island District Emergency Response Team were called for assistance
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RCMP are investigating after DFO officers were extracted after shots were fired in an incident Friday. (Citizen file)

Shots were fired but no one was injured in Chemainus on March 17 while DFO officers were apprehending three people suspected of illegally harvesting clams.

Two other individuals suspected of illegally harvesting clams had also fled into a nearby wooded area during the incident, which occurred shortly before 4:30 p.m..

Officers from the North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP detachment were called to the scene and the DFO officers were safely evacuated, as well as the three suspects.

Officers from the Island District Emergency Response Team were called for assistance to search for the remaining two suspects.

One of them was located without incident at his residence on Squaw Hay One First Nations near Chemainus.

Robert Wayne Guerin, 49, has been charged with careless use of a firearm and unauthorized possession of a weapon.

He was brought before a Justice of the Peace and released on agreement to abide by specific conditions.

Guerin will appear in Duncan Provincial Court on April 18.

The other suspect attended the North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP detachment and turned himself in.

This person was subsequently released pending further investigation.

“I am very proud of our members’ response to this incident,” said Insp. Ray Carfantan from the North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP.

“Within minutes, the three DFO officers were safely extracted from the scene. RCMP emergency response team officers were on site to safely deal with this incident. I want to thank our federal partners from Fisheries and Oceans Canada for their excellent work as peace officers, and the public for their patience and understanding during our response to this potentially volatile situation.”

The North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP general investigation section is continuing the investigation of the incident.

No further information is available at this time.