Glynn Brothen
UPDATE: Severe thunderstorm watch ended for Okanagan
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - A severe thunderstorm warning for the Central and North Okanagan including Vernon and Kelowna has ended this evening though a chance of heavy rain remains for the entire region. Environment Canada says 10-20 mm of rain is expected by Thursday morning but there is a chance of localized thunderstorms that could bring at...
Pulled over outside of the RCMP detachment, arrested on the spot
KAMLOOPS – A man disobeying his bail conditions found himself in Kamloops Supreme Court yesterday where he pleaded guilty and received a three and a half year prison sentence. Daniel Robert Sigmund, 20, was arrested and charged in connection with dial-a-dope type drug deals in Penticton after police set up a sting in 2013. When...
Professor calls for changes to stop domestic violence
"YOU COULD CREATE THE DEATH PENALTY FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND PEOPLE WOULD STILL DO IT." THOMPSON-OKANAGAN – A Thompson Rivers University professor is calling on the province to make immediate changes to protect women and families under threat of domestic violence. Micah Rankin, a lawyer and criminal law professor at TRU’s law school says the...
Inmate threatened to stab his guard with a broken meal tray
KAMLOOPS – A man well known to police and prison cells was sentenced to another year in prison after his conviction today for threatening to stab his prison guard at the Kamloops Regional Correction Centre. Travis Kelly, 26, has a lengthy criminal record including over 50 convictions, 12 of which are violent offenses. He has...
Man with history of distributing child pornography sentenced after breaching condition
KAMLOOPS – A man convicted of sending child pornography to elementary schools got more time added to his sentence today for breaching a condition of his probation order. Lowell Swetman, 49, was convicted of failing to comply with an order to stay away from children under the age of 16. On June 5, 2013, RCMP...
Riverside stabbing has police looking for suspect
KAMLOOPS – RCMP are investigating a riverside stabbing which took place on the 100 block of Tranquille Road around 5 p.m. on May 21. According to Cpl. Cheryl Bush, a man went to a tented area to speak with a woman when he was approached and stabbed by another man unknown to him. The victim’s...
Make May long-weekend a safe one
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN – Government agencies are advising May long-weekend travelers to remain safe and informed when planning vacation trips. ICBC reports, on average, a total of 1700 crashes occur on the long-weekend. Drivers are advised to plan trips ahead and avoid rushing to a destination. Police will target high-risk behaviours such as speeding, failing to yield,...
RCMP seize extensive cache of firearms, stolen property
KAMLOOPS – Cocaine, marijuana, a crossbow, flat-screen TVs, dozens of guns, ammunition and more are the latest cache grab stored at the Kamloops RCMP detachment. Insp. Brad Mueller shared the results of a three-month investigation into what RCMP believe are gang-related drug activities and led to seven arrests May 7 and 8. Six were released on...
Kamloops man sentenced to U.S. prison
LOS ANGELES – A Kamloops man found guilty of operating a gang-related cocaine-smuggling operation from Mexico received an 11 and a half year jail sentence in the United States on May 12, according to the Vancouver Sun. U.S. District Court Judge George H. Wu delivered the sentence to John Darrel Krokos, 43, of Kamloops, B.C....
Rivers rising following rain and snow-melt
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN – The B.C. Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations has released a high stream flow advisory for rivers within the Thompson- Okanagan region. The high stream is attributed to high temperatures melting the region’s mid-level snow pack. Levels will also be affected by a moderate amount of rain (10-50 mm) expected over...
Crack cocaine relapse leads to theft, robbery, prison
KAMLOOPS – A man recovering from a downward spiral involving crack-cocaine and a cheating partner was handed a 90-day jail sentence in Kamloops Provincial Court for robbing a clerk at knife-point and stealing from his employer. Lorne Steven Valliers, 34, was convicted of charges relating to forging cheques, stealing over $5,000 and robbing a convenience...
Homeless man from Ashcroft injured in blast, being treated in Vancouver
ASHCROFT – A homeless man is being treated for burns at Vancouver General Hospital after lighting a cigarette near a leaky propane tank around 9:30 a.m. yesterday morning. The 71-year-old was staying in a tent near a railroad siding, owned by Ashcroft Terminal. “He had a propane tank inside the tent that we suspect was...
Arrest made in 4 Ave. robbery
KAMLOOPS - A local man known to police was arrested for his role in a boutique store robbery that occurred April 16. Sasha Reginald Brubaker, 24, is facing charges of robbery and possession of stolen property over $5,000. The robbery details included a man entering the store on fourth avenue, presenting an exacto knife and demanding money...
TRU adding even more emergency phones despite low crime rate
KAMLOOPS – Thompson Rivers University is spending thousands of dollars on new emergency phones on campus without any metrics on use and a perpetually low crime rate. The university has recently replaced and added 28 more two-button phones with hot lines directly to campus security or 9-1-1, bringing the total to 38—far more than several...
Kamloops woman could make one-way trip to Mars
KAMLOOPS – Only 705 people in the world can say they’re in the running for a trip to Mars – Raine Light is one of them. The 30-year-old Kamloops paramedic applied for the Mars One project last year because it peaked her interest. “Whenever I see something really interesting I want to learn more; I want...