Police converge on Penticton motel, four charged with weapons and theft offences

PENTICTON – Penticton RCMP seized guns and ammunition following a search of a local motel room yesterday.

The ongoing investigation into South Okanagan property crimes prompted a search of the Penticton motel room around mid-morning by members of the Penticton South Okanagan Similkameen RCMP Targetted Enforcement unit and resulted in the arrest of four individuals yesterday, Jan. 9.

Uniformed and plainclothed officers in addition to a police dog team converged on the motel as the group arrived in a pickup truck, effecting the arrests without incident, police spokesperson Cpl. Dan Moskaluk said in a press release issued today, Jan. 10.

The two men and two women are all known to police, and all face charges. Police found a loaded handgun, a long gun, several types of ammunition and a large amount of stolen property believed to be from a number of local break and enters.

Waylon Faulhafer, 24, of Oliver faces firearms driving and possession of stolen property offences. He was also found to be wanted on an arrest warrant for break and enter in Valemont.

Jesse McKnight, 27, of Okanagan Falls was charged with two firearms offences and Chelsey Thorstensen of Oliver is facing a firearms charge as a result of the arrests.

A fourth person was released on promise to appear.

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