Vernon police use spike belt to stop stolen truck, Kelowna man arrested

RCMP officers used a spike belt to bring a stolen truck to a halt when the driver failed to stop for police as it drove erratically and at high speed on Westside Road yesterday, June 10.

Once the truck ground to a halt, the 25-year-old driver was arrested without incident.

According to a Vernon North Okanagan RCMP media release, police received a call at around 12:30 p.m. June 10, of a black pick-up truck being driven in an erratic manner on Westside Road. Police discovered the truck had been stolen from the Vernon area the day before.

RCMP officers found the truck stopped on a rural road off Westside Road, but when approached the truck fled at high speed. The officers alerted their colleagues that  the truck was headed towards West Kelowna.

"At the time of the radio transmission, RCMP Air Services were in flight and advised they were in the area," Vernon RCMP Cpl. Tania Finn said in the release. "The pilot was able to maintain a visual on the truck as it drove southbound on Westside Road toward West Kelowna and provided regular updates to police officers on the ground on its location."

Officers from West Kelowna, along with the Kelowna police dog, finally brought the vehicle to a stop with a spike belt on Westside Road and Nancee Way.

There were no reported injuries as a result of the events.

A 25-year-old Kelowna man was taken into custody without incident and now faces charges of possession of stolen property over $5000, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, flight from police and breach of probation.

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