Two men were taken into police custody Wednesday, facing several potential charges. RCMP continue to investigate a series of connected events which occurred Wednesday morning in Rutland and Glenmore.
At 9:05 a.m. June 8, Kelowna RCMP received a report of a stolen white Ford F-250 being driven erratically in the area of McCurdy Road and Highway 97 North. The vehicle had in fact been reported stolen to police on June 7 from a nearby business in the 800 block of McCurdy Place.
A short time later, RCMP received a report of an attempted theft of a Ford F-350 truck that had just occurred in the 500 block of Franklyn Road in Rutland. The unsuccessful suspects fled the area in the stolen F-250 pickup truck.
Investigators then learned that the stolen F-250 had failed to remain at the scene after colliding with a pedestrian as it fled the area of the 700 block of Stremel Road. The victim had knowledge that the vehicle was stolen and had been attempting to gain entry and recover the vehicle when the truck sped away injuring him in the process and damaging property at the scene. The victim attended the hospital and was later released after receiving treatment for non-life threatening injuries.
RCMP officers flooded into the area and spotted the suspect truck travelling along Sexsmith Road towards Glenmore. The stolen truck was located abandoned in the 1800 block of High Road and officers set a perimeter of containment.
“Through a combined effort of several units and sections of the Kelowna RCMP, along with officers of the SE District Federal Serious and Organized Crime and the assistance of an RCMPpolice service dog the suspect was taken into police custody,” said Const. Jesse O’Donaghey.
The suspect, a 24-year-old West Kelowna man of no fixed address, remains in police custody. He faces a slew of potential charges including theft of a motor vehicle over $5,000, possession of stolen property over $5,000, attempted theft of a motor vehicle over $5,000, dangerous driving, assault with a weapon, possession of break and enter instruments and breach of recognizance.
A second suspect was identified by investigators and arrested by police in connection to the alleged attempted theft of a vehicle on Franklyn Road. He also faces potential charges and remains in police custody.
If you witnessed any of these incidents and have not yet spoken to police you are asked to contact the Kelowna RCMP at 250-762-3300.