Impaired driver apprehended after flight from Penticton police

PENTICTON – Actions of a concerned citizen helped Penticton RCMP get their man, but also elicit a police caution to  the public not to put themselves at risk when reporting a crime.

Penticton RCMP were alerted of a possible impaired driver operating a pickup truck while driving north on Eastside Road on April 19 at around 2:30 p.m., according to a release from Penticton RCMP.

The caller followed the vehicle to Valleyview Road where the driver then stopped and confronted the caller with a crowbar in a threatening manner.

All available police sources responded and surrounded the area, but the suspect got back into his truck and fled at a high rate of speed before losing control and crashing into a median where the truck was hung up on Crescent Hill Road.

Two women in the truck stayed at the scene while the male driver fled on foot, only to be apprehended a short distance away.

He was taken into custody with no injuries as a result of the incident.

Const. Darrell Miller of the Penticton RCMP says the caller greatly assisted the police in the apprehension of the suspect but cautions the public about putting themselves at risk when confronted by a criminal act.

A 24-year-old Oliver resident now faces charges of impaired driving, assault with a weapon and flight from police as well as further charges under the Motor Vehicle Act. He is expected to be released pending a future court appearance.

The man owned the vehicle he was driving, but was an unregistered driver at the time of the incident.

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