Penticton drivers lead Mounties to stolen goods, drugs

PENTICTON – Driving infractions led to other charges in Penticton this past week.

Officers discovered several motorists with other police matters outstanding when investigating several driving infractions, Penticton RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Don Wrigglesworth says.

A Penticton man faces charges of possession of stolen property and breach as the result of a falling out with his roommate. A woman reported her roommate had stolen the plates from her motorhome overnight, Feb. 16, prior to leaving the residence. When the roommate returned later, police found the stolen plates in his car. The man was arrested and charged with possession of stolen property, driving while prohibited and breach.

Members of the detachment’s new Target Enforcement Unit spotted an Acura Integra leaving the Wal-Mart parking lot with an inactive vehicle plate on Feb.17. The car was stopped and the driver arrested for having no insurance. The passenger was also found to be in possession of a controlled substance and was also arrested.

The rear of the car was found to contain a large amount of unbagged groceries inside a tote, with neither occupant able to produce a receipt. Video surveillance and inquiries at Wal-Mart discovered a total of more than $700 worth of groceries being stolen from the store just before the car was observed leaving the parking lot by police.

The man in the vehicle was subsequently released without charges while the woman was held for court last week, facing a charge of theft under $5,000. Her next court appearance is March 2.

Late Wednesday or early Thursday, Feb.18, police responded to a complaint of a stolen scooter. The officer noticed a red Dodge pickup driving erratically in the area and discovered it was stolen. The driver refused to stop and used the gravel road behind Penticton Regional Airport to access Highway 97, where it fled south at a high rate of speed. The truck was located on White Lake Road in the Willowbrook area a short time later and appeared to be heading back to Okanagan Falls. A spike belt was set up east of the bridge on Highway 97, north of Okanagan Falls, and the truck stopped at that point.

The driver and passenger were arrested and are facing numerous charges, including dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, possession of stolen property and vehicle infractions including no license and no insurance. The female passenger faces charges of breach of probation and possession of methamphetamine.

On Thursday, Feb. 18, a gold Chrysler 300 parked on Beames Lane with its engine running was noticed by police, who found the plates on the vehicle had been reported stolen earlier in the day.

Police arrested the driver, charging him with possession of stolen property. He was searched and found to have methamphetamines in his possession as well. Police continue to investigate the matter.

A break and enter occurred at the Penticton Alliance Church Thursday morning, Feb. 18. A supply cupboard was opened, and candy and a laptop computer were reported missing. It appeared someone slept in the bathroom triggering the building’s alarm when they departed at 5:45 a.m. Police are checking video surveillance footage of the incident.

At 2 a.m. yesterday, Feb. 23, an injured man called police to report he’d been assaulted near the Greyhound bus depot in Penticton. Police arrived to find the man near the bus depot pay phone with the weapon, a field hockey stick, nearby.

An argument over share of rental payments triggered the assault between the victim and the assailant, who know each other. The man was transported to hospital for treatment, while police continue to search for the assailant, who faces charges of assault with a weapon.

To contact a 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.