BC Highway Patrol recognizes people who came to officers aid during altercation

The BC Highway Patrol recognized a pair of individuals who assisted an officer involved in an altercation a driver.

According to police, an officer conducted a traffic stop on March 25th at the intersection of Highway 97 North and 10th Avenue.

Mounties say the suspected driver, 66-year-old Robert Waite, exited the vehicle and began assaulting the officer.

A short time later, three members of the public came to assist the officer and help him gain control of the suspect.

Two of the three individuals, Wilmer Salaza and Robert Wheeler, were recognized during a ceremony at the BC RCMP’s North District detachment yesterday. (Thursday)

Salaza said he saw the civilian and officer talking, and not even five seconds later the altercation started.

“I didn’t know who did start the fight, but I told my son, he was the one who was driving the vehicle, we need to stop and we need to help, I need to jump in,” he said.

“I didn’t think of any danger at the time, I just need to help.”

“It was a rough situation, I don’t know, I didn’t really think about it much other than he needed help is basically it, so jumped out and gave him a hand,” Wheeler said.

“It is nice to be recognized for helping something like that, because you do never know in a situation what’s going to go down. I didn’t really think of what could happen to me at the time, just seen someone in need and I think in any situation, most people would jump in and help.”

The third individual who stepped in is currently out of the country.

Chief Superintendent of the BC Highway Patrol Holly Turton said what the three individuals did was remarkable.

“These three individuals saw that our officers was in an altercation and that he needed assistance. Even though they knew they were at risk, they still took that risk to jump in and help our officer.”

Turton said that speaks volumes of the support the public has for police.

“We just appreciate it immensely, it really, I believe, ensured that our officer was not hurt more so than he could have been.”