More details have come to light nearly a day after an unknown suspect and police exchanged gunfire Sunday night after a traffic stop.

Police said at approximately 9:00 p.m. four officers were conducting a routine traffic stop at 100 Avenue and 158 Street, and stopped a light blue Toyota 4Runner.

Then, as one officer exited the patrol car, he was allegedly shot at by the male driver.

The officer shot back at the vehicle, striking its back window as it sped away.

All of the officers are uninjured, and are eager to get back to work.

It’s not known if the male driver of the 4Runner or the female passenger sustained any injuries.

“The possibility does exist, but based on the initial examination of the vehicle it doesn’t indicate that,” Deputy Chief Brian Simpson said.

Investigators had asked for help in tracking down the vehicle, police seized the vehicle after it was found at about 4 a.m., empty.

Officers are still searching for the two people that were in the car at the time.

The suspect is described as:

  • Caucasian male
  • About 25-years-old
  • Approximately 177 cm (5’10”) tall
  • Slim build
  • Blonde, spiked hair

The male suspect is considered armed and dangerous, and should not be approached. Police did not have a description of the woman in the passenger seat.

A local criminologist weighed in on why the suspect should be given a wide berth.

“Somebody desperate, somebody armed, desperate and willing to kill a police officer,” Criminologist Bill Pitt said. “One of the most egregious things you can do in our society.”

The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team has been notified, but so far, Edmonton Police are still leading the investigation.

Police would not say why the vehicle was stopped in the first place.

“There was an anomaly with the vehicle, that’s all I can say,” Deputy Chief Simpson said. “Because of that the initiated the stop, it was not stolen.”

Officers also didn’t chase the vehicle after it left the scene because they initially thought an officer had been injured, and Air 1 was grounded due to the weather.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of the suspects is asked to call the Edmonton Police Service non-emergency line at 780-423-4567, #377 from a mobile phone, or call Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

With files from Sean Amato