Man in hospital with life-threatening injuries after dramatic standoff with Saanich police

One man was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries after a dramatic standoff with police in Saanich, B.C., on Thursday afternoon. The Independent Investigations Office of B.C. is investigating.

One man was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries after a dramatic standoff with police in Saanich, B.C., on Thursday afternoon.

Officers responded with guns drawn to the scene of a heavily damaged four-door sedan on Cook Street near Oakmount Road shortly after noon.

Police could be heard trying to negotiate with a man standing behind the damaged car before several loud popping sounds were heard and police rushed over to the man on the ground.

He was put onto a stretcher and taken from the scene in an ambulance.

Police confirmed in a statement late Thursday afternoon that the man was taken into custody and transported to hospital with "serious, life-threatening injuries."

B.C. Emergency Health Services says it was initially called to a motor vehicle incident around 12:10 p.m.

Three ambulances were dispatched to the scene and one man was taken to hospital in "critical condition," according to BCEHS.

British Columbia's police watchdog, the Independent Investigations Office of B.C., says it is investigating the incident.