4 arrested, guns and drugs seized after road rage incident in Fort St. John, B.C.: RCMP

A carbine rifle was among the items seized during the search of the vehicle, police said (Fort St. John RCMP)

Police in northern B.C. say they arrested four people and seized guns, cash and drugs after a road rage incident last weekend.

The incident happened shortly before 11 a.m. on Aug. 31, Fort St. John RCMP said in a news release Friday.

Officers were dispatched to the intersection of Baldonnel Road and Highway 97 in Baldonnel, B.C., for “a report that a male had pointed a firearm at another,” police said.

Roughly 10 minutes later, front-line officers located the suspect vehicle in Taylor, B.C., and began “a high-risk takedown.” Mounties did not elaborate on what the takedown entailed, but said it ended with four people – all known to police – in custody.

Officers seized the vehicle and secured a search warrant for it, police said, adding that the search led to the seizure of a carbine rifle, a handgun, ammunition, cash and drugs.

Two of the people arrested – 35-year-old Travis Dion Sharyk and 40-year-old Jolene Christine Wilders – have been charged in connection to the incident, police said. The other two – women ages 32 and 37 who police did not name – were released “on undertakings with conditions and court dates.” Charges have not yet been laid against those two.

According to police, Sharyk has been charged with:

• Possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose
• Occupying a vehicle knowing there was a restricted firearm in it
• Unsafe storage of a firearm
• Failure to comply with a probation order
• Possession of a weapon contrary to an order
• And possession of ammunition contrary to an order

Sharyk was “remanded into custody,” and his next court appearance is scheduled for Sept. 9, police said.

Wilders has been charged with occupying a vehicle knowing there was a restricted firearm in it, unsafe storage of a firearm and failure to comply with a release order.

She was released from custody on a new release order and is scheduled to appear in court on Sept. 29, police said.

“This incident escalated rapidly and posed a significant risk to everyone in the area,” said Const. Christiaan Dreyer, in the release.

“Thanks to the public’s timely report, RCMP members were able to locate the suspect vehicle within 10 minutes and apprehend all the involved parties without incident.”