Reports of people carrying rifles just part of a busy but orderly weekend for Penticton police

PENTICTON – Police report a busy but calm weekend even as multiple events drew large crowds – and several gun toting individuals – to Penticton’s South Okanagan Events Centre grounds.

Cpl. Don Wrigglesworth says the annual Fest of Ale, which took place at the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre on Friday and Saturday, April 7 and 8, was “busy and well behaved.”

Wrigglesworth says foot traffic into the downtown area was steady, with police dealing with several intoxicated persons for minor incidents. Police also conducted road checks in the area throughout the weekend.

RCMP responded to 26 calls overnight Friday, 24 calls during the day on Saturday and 32 calls Saturday night. Three people were jailed for intoxication.

On Sunday, April 9, police received several calls of people with rifles near the newly opened casino. Police investigated, but weren’t surprised to witness the reported activity, since a gun show had just ended on the events centre property. With a full parking lot, several participants had to park some distance from the event's doors.

“Most people enjoyed the weekend’s events appropriately,” Wrigglesworth says.

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