RCMP say they seized a number of drugs following a disturbance in front of Kamloops City Hall on Monday night that was filmed and posted to social media.

According to the RCMP’s top division in British Columbia – E-Division – the Kamloops RCMP officer was patrolling the area when he saw a man in a white vehicle in the parking lot of City Hall.

RCMP E-Division spokesperson Staff Sgt. Kris Clark says this man was reportedly yelling and swearing at a woman who was standing there with her dog.

Believing the situation was escalating when the man left his vehicle, Clark says the officer arrested the man for causing a disturbance.

He allegedly resisted arrested and handed a bag to the woman with the dog before he was handcuffed on the ground.

Clark says the officer, who Radio NL is identifying only as D. Tucker, noticed another woman inside the white vehicle who appeared to be badly injured with blood on her face.

“The officer was aware of the concurrent investigation in which a woman had been shot earlier that evening and became concerned that these events might possibly be related,” said Clark in a release.

As the incident unfolded, the RCMP says the woman wiht the dog – who was now in possession of the bag – “allegedly went to leave the scene with what the officer believed to be potential evidence of an offence,” said Clark.  “When the officer attempted to retrieve the bag from her, she allegedly positioned her dog between them causing it to bite the officer’s holster.”

The video shows then attempt to put the woman in custody, but she continued to back away.

At the same time, the dog continued to act aggressively toward the officer, which the RCMP says prompted him to draw his service pistol before a passerby, who seemed familiar with the dog, took custody of it.

“While the officer attempted to handcuff the woman, she allegedly resisted, sending the handcuffs under a nearby picnic table,” said Clark.  “The officer maintained control of the woman and retrieved his handcuffs while the second woman continued to film and taunt him.”

“Our officers face countless risks every day and make spilt-second decisions, often based on extremely limited information,” said Superintendent Jeff Pelley, Officer in Charge of the Kamloops RCMP. “It’s important to understand the full circumstances of any incident, rather than rely on a social media video that may not provide complete context.”

In total, police seized approximately 29.7 grams of suspected Fentanyl and 5.9 grams of suspected Methamphetamines, as well as small amounts of Cocaine and Crack Cocaine.

The man is known to police and both him and the woman were later released without charge.

Radio NL’s Brett Mineer later spoke to the same group involved in the arrest the following day, telling him the location where the incident took place is where they spend their time during the day, suggesting most of the shelters operating in the city won’t accept them.

“The Kamloops RCMP continues to conduct a comprehensive review of the circumstances of this incident and the investigation remains ongoing,” said the RCMP.  “There is no information at this time to suggest this event is connected to the ongoing shooting investigation.”