Man subject to July manhunt returns to court

PENTICTON – A habitual offender subject to a manhunt in the South Okanagan last summer will undergo an assessment for the next eight weeks, further delaying his trial. 

At a court appearance today, Nov. 23, Ronald Arthur Teneycke appeared in Penticton Provincial Court by video to apply for the assessment. He also asked for and was given a publication ban on further proceedings restricting the amount of publicly-available information.

Teneycke faces multiple charges, including breach, robbery, aggravated assault and discharging a firearm with intent to wound.

Teneycke was arrested July 23, 2015, following a manhunt touched off the day before after police discovered his pickup abandoned on a forest service road east of Osoyoos. He was wanted in connection with an armed robbery at the Eastside Grocery in Oliver on July 16, along with several other warrants.

Wayne Belleville of Oliver, alleged to have been shot by Teneycke during the July manhunt, attended court Monday, as well. He says he is frustrated by the lack of progress in Teneycke’s case.

“It’s been four months since the incident. I’m frustrated, but I take solace in the fact he’s behind bars,” Belleville said following Teneycke’s brief session in court. He feels Teneycke is using whatever means available to stall his case and reduce time from his eventual sentence.

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.