A police cruiser sits in front of a home, January 19, 2011. (QMI Agency/CARMINE MARINELLI)

CALGARY - Investigators are probing a shooting in which a B.C. Mountie opened fire, striking a man who sustained non-life threatening injuries.

The shooting unfolded Tuesday night in the small town of Yahk, a short distance east of Creston.

Police have released few details but confirmed it's linked to an alleged carjacking that happened near Creston earlier in the day.

The Independent Investigation Office (IIO), a newly formed body tasked with conducting criminal investigations on cases where someone has died or been seriously injured during an encounter with police, is working the case.

It said the lone male officer involved was "following up on a vehicle-related incident that had originated in Creston earlier that day."

At about 9:30 p.m., an officer spotted a vehicle matching that description in a remote area of Yahk and "during some sort of exchange," discharged his firearm.

The adult male driver sustained non-life threatening injuries and was taken to hospital. His female passenger was uninjured and taken into custody.

The police officer was not injured.

Owen Court, with IIO, said their job now is to determine if the officer's conduct warrants criminal charges.

The RCMP will continue to investigate the matter and what led to the officer opening fire.

The IIO was set up in September and this is its third file.

Former Calgary police officer Roy Fitzpatrick is seconded from the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team as a special advisor to help IIO get set up.

nadia.moharib@sunmedia.ca

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