Police swap suspects in hit and run case

KELOWNA – Charges have been dropped against a Kelowna man accused of critically injuring a paper carrier while fleeing from police and RCMP have arrested a new suspect.

Nathan Fahl, 24, was riding in a vehicle with two other people Dec. 6, 2013 when they allegedly tried to avoid a police road check on Springfield Rd. after leaving a house party in Rutland.

During the pursuit, a fire hydrant was damaged and 41-year-old newspaper carrier Steve Kania had to be airlifted to Vancouver General Hospital.

Fahl was arrested and charged with six offences, including dangerous and impaired driving causing bodily harm, failing to stop at an accident and carrying or threatening to use a weapon. He has an extensive record and has been sentenced to jail at least four times previously.

Fahl maintained his innocence from the beginning, claiming he was not the driver. According to a Global Okanagan report, Don Brodie has claimed responsibility for the accident since initially denying he was the driver.

On Tuesday, charges against Fahl were dropped and Brodie has been charged with six offences, including criminal negligence causing bodily harm. He will appear in Kelowna court Thursday.

Dillon Robert Sams and Lisa Roseanne Carlisle have also been charged with wilfully resisting or obstructing police.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Adam Proskiw at aproskiw@infotelnews.ca or call 250-718-0428. To contact the editor, email mjones@infotelnews.ca or call 250-718-2724.

— This story was updated at 12:44 p.m. to change the date Kania was injured from Dec. 7 to Dec. 6, 2013.