Gun fired, officer nearly struck by truck as West Kelowna suspect flees police

WEST KELOWNA – West Kelowna police are searching for a wanted man after he nearly struck an officer with his speeding vehicle during a tense confrontation in a parking lot on Saturday.

According to a press release, RCMP were called to the West Kelowna Walmart on Louie Drive at 3:44 p.m. on June 1 when they received reports of Dayton Lloyd McAlpine, 32, in the area. McAlpine is one of Central Okanagan Crime Stoppers' most wanted men.

Police were told McAlpine was leaving the Walmart parking lot in a 1998 teal Ford F-150 pickup truck, so they used a combination of marked and unmarked vehicles to box him in. McAlpine, who has a history of running from police, allegedly rammed into two police cars, pushing one into a civilian car and causing minor damage.

McAlpine allegedly drove off at a high speed rate straight towards an officer on foot. A second officer, fearing for their partner's safety, fired a round at the truck's driver side. The first officer jumped out of the way. No one was hurt during the incident.

McAlpine fled down Highway 97 towards Kelowna, prompting several reports of erratic driving. McAlpine was last seen on Westside Road, which led to a temporary closure of that roadway so police could conduct a search.

According to Crime Stoppers, a province-wide warrant of arrest was issued for McAlpine on May 29. Police caution the public not to approach McAlpine. Anyone with information on McAlpine or his pickup truck is asked to call the West Kelowna RCMP at 250-768-2880, or contact Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Sean Mott or call (250) 864-7494 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.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above.