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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Steve Arstad

I have been looking for news in the South Okanagan - SImilkameen for 20 years, having turned a part time lifelong interest into a full time profession. After five years publishing a local newsletter, several years working as a correspondent / stringer for several local newspapers and seven years as editor of a Similkameen weekly newspaper, I joined iNFOnews.ca in 2014. My goal in the news industry has always been to deliver accurate and interesting articles about local people and places. My interest in the profession is life long - from my earliest memories of grade school, I have enjoyed writing.
As an airborne geophysical surveyor I travelled extensively around the globe, conducting helicopter borne mineral surveys.
I also spent several years at an Okanagan Falls based lumber mill, producing glued-wood laminated products.
As a member of the Kaleden community, I have been involved in the Kaleden Volunteer Fire Department for 22 years, and also serve as a trustee on the Kaleden Irrigation District board.
I am currently married to my wife Judy, of 26 years. We are empty-nesters who enjoy living in Kaleden with our Welsh Terrier, Angus, and cat, Tibbs.
Our two daughters, Meagan and Hayley, reside in Richmond and Victoria, respectively.

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