Kelowna officer crashes squad vehicle

KELOWNA – A Kelowna RCMP officer was injured and taken to hospital after the marked SUV he was driving crashed with a Ford F250.

The accident happened while he was en route to help search for a man suspected of attempting to steal a Dodge pickup.

At 3:50 p.m. August 5 Mounties were told a vehicle was stolen from a home in the 800 block of Pettigrew Street, Kelowna RCMP Const. Kris Clark said in a press release. The Dodge pickup had apparently crashed into a house on the street and was abandoned at Bay Avenue. Police found the vehicle's ignition was damaged and a "Club" device was still attached to the steering wheel. Police then discovered another Dodge pickup truck parked on Bay Avenue had a damaged ignition switch. A desciption of the suspect involved with the second truck matched the first. 

Police set up a perimeter and started a search for a male suspect.

Plainclothes officers saw a man matching the description and called other officers for back-up. RCMP believe one of the officers travelling north on Ethyl Street in a marked police SUV likely ran a stop sign and was struck on the passenger side at Crowley Avenue by a westbound Ford F250.

The officer injuries were non-life-threatening and he was taken to hospital. The driver of the Ford appeared unhurt but went to hospital as a precaution.

The man police were searching for was soon passed over once another suspect was seen attempting to steal a fork lift at Sun Rype, located at 1165 Ethyl Street. Police found the other suspect on foot not far from Sun Rype. The 35-year-old Kelowna man was arrested and remains in custody to face a number of potential theft-related charges. 

Police continue to investigate and there is a chance there are more related incidents in the area.

–This story was updated at 5:48 p.m. to make a spelling correction.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Adam Proskiw at aproskiw@infotelnews.ca or call 250-718-0428. To contact the editor, email mjones@infotelnews.ca or call 250-718-2724.