Penticton news

Do you know the difference between color and colour? What about your kids?

VERNON - Raise your hand if you pronounce the last letter of the alphabet ‘zed’ instead of ‘zee.’ What about colour versus color — do you spell it the first way or the second? Do you refer to the road less travelled, with two l’s or the road less traveled with one? Do you recognize...

Oliver family feels marijuana-laced baked goods to blame for sick dog

OLIVER - A family pet needed emergency care after ingesting enough marijuana to cause THC toxicity this past weekend, leaving his Oliver family to believe a Halloween prank is to blame. Faith Speed started 'Rangers Medical Support Fund' after her dog got sick this past weekend, which she believes was caused when someone left something...

Employers in Kelowna, Sorrento fined for exposing workers to asbestos

OKANAGAN - WorkSafe B.C. has slapped two local employers with heavy fines for exposing workers to asbestos. The first, Kelowna’s Kone Inc., was handed a $15,000 penalty for potentially exposing its workers to harmful levels of asbestos. According to WorkSafe B.C., the company, which installs, maintains and repairs elevators and escalators, was first told to...

Halloween hijinks include kids with ‘copious amounts’ of alcohol in Penticton

PENTICTON - Police spent a busy Halloween night responding to numerous fireworks and intoxicated persons complaints. “Copious amounts of liquor was seized from 15 year old youths,” Penticton RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Don Wrigglesworth says. Numerous backpacks were seized, full of bottles of everything from Jack Daniels whiskey to Captain Morgans rum, he says. Several two-litre...

UPDATE: Penticton car crash victim dies in hospital

PENTICTON - One of the two people seriously injured following a head-on crash in Penticton last night has died in hospital. RCMP say the crash happened at about 7 p.m., Oct. 9, on Lakeside Road. “A Ford pickup truck, which was travelling south, and a Kia car, which was travelling north, hit head-on,” Const. Michael...

Why Penticton police hope the city hosts more events like Ribfest

PENTICTON - Penticton RCMP resources are feeling the pressures of increasing call volumes and depleted ranks as this year’s crime statistics defy normal patterns. Staff Sgt. Kurt Lozinski describes the call volumes as “wonky” this year, as seasonal call volumes in the off season winter months this year reached summer volumes at times. Lozinski says...

Directors voice policing issues to region’s top cop

PENTICTON - The recent graffiti epidemic was just one of the topics Penticton RCMP's top cop spoke about during the Regional District board meeting Jan. 22. Penticton RCMP Superintendent Kevin Hewco discussed the RCMP’s annual performance plan with regional directors, a means by which each municipality is able to identify their own exclusive policing needs,...

City concession stands targeted by thieves

PENTICTON - Beach concessions took a beating this week in the Peach City. Penticton’s Community policing Coordinator Rick Dellebuur reports a number of break and enters at the city’s various beach concessions during the past week. Overnight on Wednesday, Aug. 19, the concession at Lakawanna Park was broken into and cash stolen from the till. The...

A week of thefts and threats for Penticton RCMP

PENTICTON - Summer activity appears to be winding down in the city with Penticton RCMP reporting a quiet week. RCMP media spokesperson Cpl. Don Wrigglesworth says police investigated several vehicle thefts, mischief and domestic complaints over the past week in Penticton. On Monday, Aug. 24, police were called in the early morning hours to a...

Motorcycle thief surrenders after heroin-induced ‘vision’

PENTICTON - Penticton RCMP came across a motorcycle thief, an excessive speeder and several break ins during their patrols last week. Penticton RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Don Wrigglesworth reports a motorcycle belonging to a Surrey resident was found by police Tuesday, Sept. 29, after the driver crashed it on Marina Way near the art gallery. The...

Busy week for Penticton RCMP as thieves target vehicles

PENTICTON - Penticton RCMP Community policing coordinator Rick Dellebuur reports the Penticton detachment responded to a number of thefts and break and enters in the past week. Beginning last Tuesday, Aug. 18, police recovered a 2011 Ford F-150 pickup that had been stolen from a Fairview Avenue address. The Alberta plated vehicle, which had keys...

Theft, unusual odours and annual grad party all part of Penticton RCMP work week

PENTICTON - Thefts kept police busy this week, along with some mischief and an annual unsanctioned graduation event. Tuesday, Sept. 1, a suspect was arrested by the drug task force after stealing men’s jeans from Mark’s Work Wearhouse at 2607 South Main St., according to Penticton RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Don Wrigglesworth. The man was identified...

From meth use to mischief to spitting on a cop cruiser, Penticton RCMP again kept busy

PENTICTON - It was a week filled with drugs, vandalism, guns and theft for members of the Penticton RCMP. A man high on meth attempted to check himself into emergency on Wednesday evening, Sept. 9. He was refused admission and threatened to go outside to the parking lot and start smashing windshields, which caught the...

Police patrols respond to impaired octogenarian and other offences in Penticton

PENTICTON - It was a busy week for local RCMP as they dealt with a variety of infractions while patrolling area highways last week. Police received several complaints of an erratic driver behind the wheel of a grey Chevy Cobalt on Tuesday afternoon, Sept.1. The vehicle was located shortly after it struck another vehicle, but...

Arrests made in kidnapping and extortion incident in Penticton

PENTICTON - A call from an upset grandmother tipped police off to a kidnapping in Penticton this past weekend. Police received a call from the victim's grandmother early Sunday, Oct. 18, who said her grandson and his dog were going to be shot by a kidnapper if he didn’t pay the man money, according to...