South Okanagan police pursuit ends with suspect vehicle stuck in snow

South Okanagan police pursuit ends with suspect vehicle stuck in snow | iNFOnews.ca
Photographer: Adam Proskiw

PENTICTON – Police have a woman in custody following a dangerous driving spree that began in Penticton and ended near Apex Mountain earlier this week.

The chase started when a Penticton RCMP officer on routine patrol spotted a woman driving a stolen, silver Ford Explorer dangerously at the north end of the city, Tuesday, Feb. 20.

The officer made an attempt to stop the vehicle, but the suspect took off, according to an RCMP media release. The officer didn't pursue because the SUV was being driven dangerously.

RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Ted Manchulenko says the suspect was spotted driving dangerously in downtown Penticton but an attempt by RCMP to cordon off the area to contain the driver failed and the suspect fled towards Okanagan Falls.

Keremeos RCMP tried to stop the suspect vehicle with a spiked belt, but the driver was able to avoid it.

A police helicopter took to the skies in an effort to safely observe the vehicle, which Manchulenko says was now being driven into the Apex Mountain area where the chase ended.

The suspect had become stuck in snow at a rural property on Apex. Police arrived and arrested the woman behind the wheel. They found a handgun, ammunition and disguises in the vehicle.

Jodi Kornelsen, 31, is in custody and is expected to appear in Penticton court on seven driving and weapons charges.

Manchulenko says Kornelsen is well known to police, has a lengthy criminal record and is known to frequent Kelowna and Calgary.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Steve Arstad or call 250-488-3065 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

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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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