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.

Police

Robbery at Vernon dispensary nothing unusual — for any business: Pot activist

VERNON - Medical marijuana dispensaries in Vernon were warned about police raids, but an armed robbery got one of them first. Police said three men robbed Black Crow Herbal Dispensary on 48 Avenue at gunpoint the evening of Dec. 30, making off with cash and marijuana products. The robbery comes on the heels of an...

Woman jumps from moving vehicle in attempt to evade Vernon police officer

VERNON - A woman with several outstanding warrants made a dramatic, yet unsuccessful, attempt to flee from police in Vernon. An officer patrolling the area of 30 Avenue noticed a white Chevrolet truck speeding around 3 a.m. Dec. 31 and attempted to pull over the driver. Instead of stopping, the driver fled south on 35...

2015 TOP STORIES: Marijuana goes mainstream as legalization looms

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Marijuana made the news so much in 2015 you could almost smell it wafting across Canada. Supporters could definitely smell change in the air as outright legalization of the drug became part of Justin Trudeau's winning campaign in the 2015 federal election. No sooner was he elected that unions started proposing responsible ways...

Vernon RCMP amping up presence for New Year’s Eve

VERNON - Police will be out in full force in the North Okanagan on New Year’s Eve.  That’s the reminder Const. Jocelyn Noseworthy is giving in advance of this Thursday’s New Year’s celebrations. “Our communities can expect to see road blocks, roving traffic patrols and foot patrols of bar areas, as well as our usual...

Charges laid against man who barricaded himself in Shuswap home, lit it on fire

SALMON ARM - A man accused of barricading himself inside a home and lighting it on fire during a bizarre episode in the Shuswap is facing criminal charges. Adolf Albert Edward Hemmerling, in his 40s, is charged with uttering threats and arson damaging property, in relation to the Dec. 20, 2015 incident. Hemmerling allegedly barricaded...

UPDATED: Missing Kelowna man has been found

UPDATE: 10:20 a.m. Dec. 23. Police say the missing man has been found with self-inflicted wounds and suffering from near hypothermia by hikers near Paul's Tomb on Knox Mountain in Kelowna and apprehended under the Mental Health Act. All personal information has been removed from this post. 10:20 a.m. Dec. 23 KELOWNA - Mounties need...

Vernon woman hit by car remains in hospital

VERNON - A local woman remains in hospital after getting hit by a car Saturday evening. A car travelling east on 30 Avenue collided with the woman around 5:30 p.m. Dec. 12, Const. Jocelyn Noseworthy says. The 45-year-old woman was taken to Vernon Jubilee Hospital for treatment of serious injuries. She has since been transferred...

Assault and bank robbery keep Chase RCMP busy

CHASE - Theft, assault and attempted fraud cases have kept Chase RCMP officers busy over the past week.  On Sunday, Dec. 6 the detachment received an attempted fraud report from a man who received a 'pop-up message' on his smartphone while he was making financial transactions. Spokesperson Sgt. Gary Heebner says the notice came from...

Kelowna Mounties make arrests, take drugs and guns

KELOWNA - Police hauled small amounts of several different drugs, along with guns and ammunition, from a bust on a rented suite in the 200 block of McCurdy Road last week, police said today. Spokesperson Cpl. Joe Duncan said a 'short-term investigation' led to a search warrant where they found: Investigators executed the warrant, located...

Vernon woman arrested after collision in stolen vehicle

VERNON - A Vernon woman is facing several charges after a dangerous driving episode in a stolen vehicle last week. Police officers noticed the Nissan Juke car, which was reported stolen two days earlier, while conducting patrols in the area of 32 Avenue and 32 Street in Vernon around 3 p.m. on Dec. 1. The...

Expect to see more police presence in downtown Vernon

VERNON - There will be more police officers patroling the streets of downtown Vernon next year. Vernon city council recently voted to approve $330,000 for two additional officer positions effective Jan. 1, 2016. The detachment says it will use that funding to restore staffing levels in the downtown enforcement unit. “These officers will assist us...

Vernon parking meter thief caught in the act

VERNON - A man suspected of breaking into over 100 parking meters has been caught. Const. Jocelyn Noseworthy says in a statement a 34-year-old man was arrested breaking into a parking meter on Centennial Drive on Friday, Dec. 4 at around 1 a.m. “To date, approximately 113 parking meters have been broken into in the...

Driver ticketed after fleeing the scene of Vernon crash

VERNON - The mystery behind a car crash last week in which the driver fled the scene has been solved. RCMP Const. Jocelyn Noseworthy says a witness reported seeing the vehicle leave the road and go into the ditch around 10:50 p.m., Nov. 27. The driver was then seen fleeing the scene. Emergency responders found...

Police activity outside Vernon apartment building explained

VERNON - Police activity outside a Vernon apartment building last week was related to a stolen property investigation, RCMP confirmed today, Dec. 3 RCMP recovered three stolen Ford pickup trucks from the residence, located in the 4700 block of 20 Street, around 8:30 a.m., Nov. 27, Const. Jocelyn Noseworthy says in a media release. Police...

Vernon marijuana dispensaries warned by police to shut down

VERNON - Medical marijuana dispensaries in Vernon have been warned to close their doors. Hasia Glaim co-owns MMJ Total Health Care on 31 Avenue downtown Vernon and was surprised to get a visit from the Vernon RCMP Nov. 24. “We were given a verbal warning to shut down as we are operating illegally and we...