Responding officer & suspect injured following police chase

Sep 22, 2026 | 1:13 PM

An alleged impaired driver was taken into custody after threatening to shoot police and residents.

Peace River RCMP say on Friday, Sept. 18, they received a call about an alleged impaired driver threatening to shoot people, with both officers and Police Dog Services responding, as they believed the suspect was armed with a shotgun.

RCMP located the suspect and attempted to pull them over, but they fled; a police chase then ensued until a tire deflation device was used to slow down the suspect vehicle.

Mounties added that “given the gravity of the threats,” RCMP also rammed the suspect vehicle before the arrest, which led to an injury to a responding officer.

During the arrest, a shotgun was seized from the backseat of the suspect vehicle, and the suspect also sustained a minor injury from a dog bite, but was treated at the scene.

Ernest Hunter, a 41-year-old Peace River resident, had six charges laid against them:

Dangerous operation of a motor vehicle
Two counts of uttering threats
Possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose
Flight from police
Resists police

He was released on conditions and is set to appear in court on Oct. 5.

by Tanner Smith