Mountie gets man but needs military rescue after suspect leads officer into icy ravine

A Midway, B.C., mountie who got his manended up in need of military rescueafter a hot chase led both officer and suspect down a steep and icy ravine, according toRCMP.

In a statement released Wednesday,Midway RCMPsaid it was just after 3:00 p.m.,when policewere called to apropertyin the1600-block of Fish Lake Road inBridesville, B.C., for a report of an alleged break and enter.

The ownerhad reported seeingseveralpeople outside the home through surveillance cameras and was concerned for the property, the statement said.

When officers arrived, five suspects were seen running from the area.RCMP said four were caught, but a fifth suspect managed to run away into a forested area where one of the officers followed.

Both ended upnearly 400-feet down a steep and snowy ravine, trapped and unable to climb back out, or be reached by any conventional means, according to police.

That was when RCMP called in several other districts for help, including a pair of Cormorant helicoptersfrom theCanadian Armed Forces base in Comox, B.C., as day turned into night, according to RCMP.

The stranded pair's predicament worsened asthe suspect, who was now soaked with cold waterafter running through a river, went into a hypothermic state, RCMPsaid.

Nearby residents helped outby tossing blankets, clothing and suppliesto build a fire to stay warm, the RCMP statement said.

But just before 9:20 p.m., Canadian Armed Forces Cormoranthelicopters arrived to airlift the pairout of the ravine using a longline, RCMPsaid.

A 47-year-old Bridesville man remains in police custody after being taken to aregional hospital where he wastreated for exposure related injuries.

The man was alreadywanted on several outstanding warrants, RCMP said.

Two other men, 44 and 45, and two women, 35 and 51,all from the Bridesville area, were released at the scene, each of whomface potential charges.

The rescued RCMP officer did not require any medical attention, the statement said.