Kelowna police dog nabs car thief who crashed into lamppost

A person "well known to police" hit a lamppost before ramming into RCMP vehicles in a stolen SUV this morning.

According to a Kelowna RCMP media release, the white Toyota 4Runner was reported stolen sometime this morning, Feb. 21, and then spotted shortly after 9:30 a.m. on Dease Road by the Kelowna RCMP.

The officer that spotted the Toyota followed slowly from a distance and radioed colleagues. The Toyota then turned onto Enterprise Way and collided with a lamppost at Commerce Avenue.

However, the driver continued driving.

Officers tracked the stolen vehicle on several different streets before it turned onto Fife Road, which is a dead-end, according to Kelowna RCMP spokesperson Ryan Watters. Police Dog Service vehicles moved in quickly and engaged their emergency equipment. The driver of the stolen vehicle rammed into the police trucks then fled on foot.

A police dog was let loose and the suspect was tracked down and taken into custody.

"This individual is well-known to police," Kelowna RCMP Sgt. Kevin Duggan said in the release. "He showed a disturbing lack of regard for our officers and the safety of the public. It was a complete team effort, from the officer who initially spotted the stolen vehicle to the officers who made the arrest of this suspect."

Police are now asking members of the public who may have witnessed the vehicle or have dashcam or home video security of the white Toyota 4Runner to please contact Kelowna RCMP at 250-762-3300 and reference the file number 2023-9698.

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