A man who says he witnessed a confrontation involving police in Sheshatshiu, central Labrador, is telling a different story of what happened than the RCMP.

The incident happened just before midnight Friday shortly after RCMP officers responded to an assault complaint.

Police said one of the officers used pepper spray on a man who had become combative during an attempted arrest. Police said the man wrestled the can of spray from an officer, bolted out the door of a house and fled the area, stealing the police car that was parked outside.

A motorist who was passing by offered a ride to police officers to track down their stolen vehicle.

Police said that when they spotted the car, an officer approached the vehicle, ordering the driver to stop and get out. The RCMP said that instead, the man started driving toward the officers, one of whom then fired his gun at the vehicle.

But Leonard Rich, a resident of Sheshatshiu who said he was the driver who helped police get their vehicle back, said Monday the official police version of events doesn't match his recollection.

Rich said the stolen vehicle was being driven away from them when both police officers pulled out their guns and fired once each, striking and shattering the back windshield of the police cruiser.

Rich said the police officers were never in any danger, and he was more concerned about stray bullets in a residential area.

Rich told his side of the story Monday afternoon to investigators from the major crimes unit of the RCMP, who are in Sheshatshiu to carry out an investigation.

Frank Pokue, 37, of Sheshatshiu has been charged with several offences in connection with the incident.