Police arrest suspect after calls about an armed man near Penticton school

PENTICTON – RCMP arrested a man following reports of a man with a gun near a Penticton school this afternoon.

Police spokesperson Cpl. Don Wrigglesworth says police responded to reports of a man with a gun near Queens Park Elementary around 12:50 p.m. today, June 22.

After ensuring the safety of students and staff at the school, police were able to track the man to Main and Eckhardt Avenue, where attempts to detain the man failed when he fled on a bicycle.

Police chased the man into Penticton Library where he was arrested in the hallway near the west exit.

Wrigglesworth says no firearm was found, but items and other weapons were found in the man’s possession could have been mistaken for a gun by the witnesses.

A 32-year-old man is being held on warrants for his arrest out of Princeton, with new charges also being recommended to Crown.

The man will be being held in custody pending a court appearance in Penticton court tomorrow, June 23.


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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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