Elevate your local knowledge

Sign up for the iNFOnews newsletter today!

Select Region

Selecting your primary region ensures you get the stories that matter to you first.

Crime

Social media comes to the rescue in robbery of local shop

PENTICTON - Social media came to the rescue once again for a local shop owner who was able to confront the man who stole from him. Leigh Follestad, owner of SmartShopper on Main Street, posted to Facebook footage from security cameras of a man stealing form his store Tuesday night. Someone saw the video and...

Former city councillor sentenced to prison for sexual assault

PENTICTON - Former city councillor Gary A. Leaman will spend the next few years in jail—his punishment for sexually assaulting two young victims. Leaman, 59, pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault and was sentenced to a total of 21 months in provincial prison by Judge Gale Sinclair today at the Penticton Courthouse. Sinclair...

BOBBITT: Dangerous offender hearing to resume in October

PENTICTON - The dangerous offender hearing and sentencing of David Bobbitt will continue next month. Bobbitt pleaded guilty last year to seven charges, including unlawful confinement, and sexual and aggravated assault in relation to a 2011 incident when he confined a 22-year-old woman and her toddler in his second-hand store, sexually assaulted the woman and...

Boonstock says RCMP accounting is ‘speculation’

PENTICTON - Boonstock organizers say they received a bill from the provincial government three-and-a-half times more than the additional $50,000 RCMP say is owed for extra costs incurred over the festival weekend last month. The Ministry of Justice sent an invoice to Boonstock organizers with a “total owing” of nearly $177,000, and gave them 30...

RCMP say Boonstock needs to reimburse government for additional police costs

PENTICTON - RCMP say Boonstock organizers need to reimburse the provincial government for additional police officers required during the festival weekend, after private security failed to provide adequate resources. The two final days of the festival required additional personnel since RCMP had to shift their focus to security and public safety. A new cost analysis...

BOBBITT: Doctor says victim suffered life-threatening injuries

PENTICTON - The victim of an aggravated and sexual assault incident on July 31 2011 suffered life-threatening injuries, an emergency doctor said today during the dangerous offender hearing and sentencing of Penticton man, David Bobbitt. Dr. James Atkins treated the victim in the early morning of July 31, 2011, shortly after her arrival to the...

This is how a 76-year-old woman responded to threats from Penticton city hall

PENTICTON - A local woman refuses to apologize to city staff about comments she made in letters sent to city staff and council, and puts herself at risk to be sued. Elvena Slump, 76, has been an outspoken member of the public and has written several letters to local media and city council critical of...

Want to be a correctional officer at the new Okanagan prison?

PENTICTON - B.C. Corrections is looking for South Okanagan residents interested in becoming correctional officers to work at the new prison when it opens in 2016. The Justice Institute and B.C. Corrections will hold information sessions in Osoyoos, Penticton and Oliver throughout October and November. There will be orientation sessions to provide an overview of...

BOBBITT: Forensic officer gives crime scene evidence

PENTICTON - Crown prosecutors called four witnesses to the stand, including a forensic identification officer, this afternoon during the dangerous offender hearing and sentencing of alleged sexual assault offender David Bobbitt. The hearing reconvened in Penticton Supreme Court Tuesday after a two month hiatus. Crown prosecutor Nashina Devji called witnesses to the stand in relation...

Charges laid after last week’s manhunt

KAMLOOPS – Charges have been laid following a police pursuit of a man reported to be carrying multiple guns last week. RCMP conducted a manhunt after someone reported the suspect became distraught with his bank, returned home and left again in possession of firearms. While a police spokesperson would not confirm the bank at which...

Dangerous offender hearing reconvenes this afternoon

PENTICTON - The dangerous offender hearing and sentencing of a Penticton man charged with sexual assault, aggravated assault and unlawful confinement, will reconvene in Penticton Supreme Court today after a two-month break. David Wesley Bobbitt last appeared in court the week of June 23 for the start of his dangerous offender hearing and sentencing for...

Family sets up memorial fund for hit-and-run victim

PENTICTON - The family of a young man killed in a hit-and-run accident have set up a memorial fun in his name to help support the three young children that survive him. Scott Michaud, 27, was found dead in the early morning of August 12 alongside Skaha Lake Road in Penticton. Police said Michaud’s injuries...

Police search for bear spraying robber

KELOWNA – RCMP officers are searching for a suspect who sprayed bear spray after robbing the Dilworth Drive Scotia Bank Tuesday afternoon. Before deploying the spray, a man walked in the bank with his face covered and demanded cash. He fled with an undisclosed amount. After searching the scene, police were unable to find the...

RCMP see surge in thefts due to residents’ negligence

KELOWNA – Calling it a “crime of opportunity” Mounties are advising Kelowna residents to keep doors and windows locked when leaving home; thieves are taking advantage of those who fail to do so.  Unlocked doors and open windows have led to a surge of break-and-enter cases in the city, with officers noting most offenses in...

Locks cut, items stolen from Oliver storage lockers

OLIVER - Several storage lockers were broken into Monday night at a storage facility in Oliver, according to police. At least seven lockers had their locks cut off and appeared to have been rummaged through and an undetermined amount of property was stolen, RCMP reported. The name of the storage facility is not being released...

Jail time already served, man walks away on probation

PENTICTON - An Oliver man was sentenced Monday for charges related to a car bomb explosion last August. Eric Olivier Daoust pled guilty to mischief over $5,000 and was sentenced to 30 days in jail plus two years of probation. He already served the jail time so he walked out of Penticton Provincial Court on...

RCMP find guns and drugs in Highland Motel room

PENTICTON - Three people were arrested for drugs and possession of weapons on Saturday night at the Highland Motel after police were called to calm down a party. Police first spotted a sawed-off shotgun inside the room. After an investigation of the room, police seized additional weapons, a large quantity of MDMA (Ecstasy), other illicit...

OOPS: Man accidentally released on bail on domestic violence charges

KAMLOOPS – A man held in custody on a string of domestic violence charges was mistakenly set free on bail from the Kamloops Law Courts and a Supreme Court judge was asked to fix it last week. "Confusing," was how Justice Hope Hyslop described the situation surrounding Jeremy Allen, born 1980. It's not clear exactly...

RCMP investigate aggressive behaviour on CUPE picket line

PENTICTON - A manager of the Naramata Centre allegedly displayed aggressive and threatening behaviour on the picket line Monday night where CUPE workers have been picketing for months. RCMP have been notified of a damaged tent and the manager’s aggressive behaviour. RCMP are reportedly investigating the matter, CUPE B.C. Secretary Treasurer Paul Faoro said. “The...

Shooting victim granted bail

KAMLOOPS – A man lucky to be alive following a gunshot wound to the face was granted a $5,000 bail Thursday morning in Provincial Court. Emmanual “Manny” Brooks, 23, sported a neck brace with his prison attire to continue his bail hearing from August 13. Brooks is charged with uttering threats and mischief under $5,000...

Man arrested in Osoyoos faces more firearms trafficking charges

OSOYOOS - An additional 37 firearms-related charges have been laid on a Langley man arrested at the Nk’Mip campground in Osoyoos last month in addition to the nine charges he originally faced. Bradley Michael Friesen, 37, was arrested on July 17 at the campground in Osoyoos where officers found and seized numerous firearms and prohibited...