West Kelowna councillor arrested (for charity)

WEST KELOWNA – A West Kelowna councillor was placed in handcuffs Monday morning for uttering threats of retiring.

The “arrest” took place ahead of a Cops for Kids fundraiser where members of the public can file a summons, forcing them to pay bail that will be donated to kids suffering from medical, physical or traumatic crises.

RCMP Superintendent Nick Romanchuk made the high-profile arrest at the Kelowna RCMP detachment Monday morning.

“Gord indicated that he wouldn’t run for re-election in the fall and for residents of West Kelowna that’s just not acceptable,”Romanchuk says. “His community relies on him as a leader, and uttering threats of retirement is something we take very seriously.”

The Westbank Kinsmen Jail & Bail is an annual event Friday May 30 where suspects are arrested by off-duty police and confined to a make-shift jail at Wholesale Sports. The suspects will be issued sentences by a judge made up of volunteers from the community.

“This is our fourth annual Jail & Bail and we’re always looking for new culprits to lock up into our jail,” says Westbank Kindsman Scott Kehler. “If you’d like to snitch on a friend or coworker, or even turn yourself in, we’d be happy to give you some time in the slammer.”

The event raised $18,000 last year and close to $50,000 over the past three years.

Those wishing to turn someone in to benefit Cops for Kids are asked to email westbankkinsmenj.jailandbail@gmail.com or call 250-317-7089.

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.