Thief has to be rescued from Shuswap River by police

KELOWNA – A man suspected of breaking into a North Okanagan home ended up having to be rescued by the RCMP a few hours later.

The break-in happened just before 3 p.m. on Dec. 14 on Helmcken Road in Enderby, according to a news release issued today, Dec. 20. The items stolen included a firearm.

Witnesses told police a white Jeep Cherokee was spotted in the area just before the break-in. It was found abandoned in a ditch off Back Enderby Road around 6 p.m. after Vernon North Okanagan RCMP received further tips from the public.

Police quickly evacuated the area, set up containment and brought in Cain, a police service dog, who tracked one suspect who had stranded himself on a sandbar in the middle of the Shuswap River.

An RCMP watercraft was needed to rescue the man, who was taken into custody without incident.

Cain continued to work with his handler and tracked a woman to an address on Graham Road, where she was arrested.

“This is a situation that could have had a tragic outcome for either the suspects or any member of the public,” Const. Kelly Brett stated in the news release. “However, the diligence of all officers involved in this incident led to both suspects being apprehended without incident and the recovery of a stolen firearm.”

Justin Dionne, a 39-year old Kelowna man, faces numerous charges including; possession of an unregistered restricted weapon, possession of a prohibited or restricted firearm with ammunition, unauthorized possession of a firearm in a motor vehicle, possession of property obtained by crime and failing to comply with probation orders, the news release states.

Alexis Romanuik, 24, from Enderby faces charges for failing to comply with conditions.

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