Penticton police dodge rocks and deal with fake guns

PENTICTON – Police spent a busy week tracking thieves, dealing with imitation handguns and dodging rocks while breaking up an unruly party.

For the second time in two weeks, thieves struck a roofing supplier, police reported today, Oct. 13. Penticton RCMP spokesperson Don Wrigglesworth says thieves broke into a fenced compound at Proline Suppliers on Oct. 6, making off with 20 bundles of black asphalt shingles, valued at $400. The Fortis compound on Huth Avenue was also broken into, with the fence cut and a maintenance trailer broken into, though nothing appeared to be missing.

On Wednesday night, Oct. 7, two youths were threatened by a man with a knife in front of Smart Shoppers in the downtown core. A man with a previous warrant was arrested and is being held for psychiatric assessment.

Back Country Sports on Eckhardt Avenue was the scene of an early morning break in on Oct. 8. A skinny male and female wearing heavy work cover all-style clothing were reported breaking into the store and taking bear spray, knives and clothing. They were last seen in a grey, full-size pickup truck heading towards Summerland.

Police received a call from a man who happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time on Oct. 8. While waiting for his father to pick him up, another man, who was attempting to locate a drug dealer who he felt was responsible for getting his sister addicted, pointed a gun at the complainant in an apparent case of mistaken identity. Police located the man, who had an imitation firearm tucked into the waistband of his pants. The man is being held under several undisclosed charges.

Police attended a party described as 'getting out of hand' on Wiltse Drive Friday night, Oct. 9, only to have their police cruisers pelted with rocks.

A break and enter was reported at the compound at 1384 Commercial Way overnight Saturday, Oct. 10. A white, 2010 Chevrolet Silverado with license plate FC6264, and registered to Quastuco Silverculture, was stolen from the compound. The vehicle suffered damage to the front end and loss of part of the bumper after ramming the gate to get away.

Overnight Sunday, Oct. 11, a break in at Huber Bannister Chev dealership resulted in the surrounding fence being cut and four locks on a canister torched off. The canister contained tires, but nothing was taken.

On Tuesday morning, Oct. 13, police received a call of a man waving a handgun on the front lawn of a Kaleden residence. Police responded to find a man in possession of a pellet gun, engaged in ongoing neighbour issues over shooting of marmots.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Steve Arstad at sarstad@infonews.ca or call 250-488-3065. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.