Prolific offender nabbed by Kelowna police dog on Christmas Day

Criminals don’t all take Christmas off but neither do police dogs.

Kelowna RCMP responded to a call of a business break-in at 7:50 a.m. on Christmas Day, Dec. 25, on Neave Court in Kelowna.

The victim of the break-in told police which way the thief was headed so they were able to find the truck he was driving on Granite Road in the McKinley Beach area.

With the help of police dog Jak, they found the suspect hiding under a house under construction on Arrowroot Drive.

“The suspect resisted arrest by pulling away from the Police Dog Service team and he was subsequently apprehended by Jak and his handler,” an RCMP news release issued today, Jan. 6, said. “He sustained minor injuries and was treated at Kelowna General Hospital and released.”

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Since Jak arrived on duty in Kelowna in November 2021 he and his handler have nabbed 13 people involved in criminal activity.

The 41-year-old suspect is from Nakusp and will stay in jai until his next court appearance.

He’s described as a prolific offender and the 1999 Dodge Ram he was driving was reported stolen from Nakusp on Dec. 21. He faces three charges of possession of property obtained by crime along with other charges for things like break and enter, dangerous operation of a conveyance and operating while prohibited.

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