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Police
Police seek answers in Vernon teen’s death
VERNON - Police are working to give a grieving family answers in the tragic boating death of a Vernon teen. Officers are investigating the death of Miles Wohlford, 14, who fell off his tube and was struck by the boat and its propeller June 28 on Okanagan Lake. “The investigation is to thoroughly look into...
Authorities investigate grass fire in Vernon park
VERNON - A grass fire in Becker Park does not appear to be the work of Vernon’s serial arsonist. The fire broke out around 10 p.m. Sunday in Becker Park, off 39 Avenue downtown Vernon. “It is totally out of the norm of all the other fires we are investigating,” police spokesperson Gord Molendyk says....
RCMP bike patrol resuming next week
KAMLOOPS – While the Kamloops RCMP bike patrol is set to officially start next week, officers were spotted breaking in their bikes at Riverside Park on Thursday afternoon. The bike patrol is planned for the summer months. Members along with auxiliary volunteers will monitor parks, the downtown core and areas of the North Shore. “It...
Two of three accused Westside shooters plead guilty
KELOWNA — Two of three suspects accused of getting into a shootout with police in West Kelowna almost 2 years ago have pleaded guilty. Ashley Alexandria Collins, 21, and Shawn Adam Wysinski, 34, entered their pleas Wednesday in Kelowna Supreme Court. The case dates back to July 31, 2012 when Collins, Wysinski and Michael Edward...
Pedestrian struck on Hospital Hill
VERNON - A man was hit by a tractor trailer unit Wednesday afternoon on Highway 97 in Vernon. The accident occurred around 12:40 p.m. on Hospital Hill. RCMP spokesperson Gord Molendyk says the male pedestrian was taken to hospital for treatment of his injuries. The northbound lane remains closed while police investigate the incident. Traffic...
One year later, police still need help solving Glenmore murder
KELOWNA – One year after a Kelowna woman was found murdered in her Glenmore home, RCMP are still no closer to identifying a suspect. The body of Theresa Ashley Neville was found by paramedics shortly after midnight June 18 and an autopsy revealed Neville was murdered. Frank Schlief says he rented the home to Neville,...
Police respond to drunk man yelling, swearing, possibly holding gun
KAMLOOPS – Mounties took four people into custody Monday afternoon after responding to a report of an intoxicated man yelling and screaming in his backyard while holding what looked like a 9mm handgun. RCMP members went to the residence located in Upper Sahali at about 2:30 p.m. and recovered the weapon which was determined to...
Arrest made in liquor store robbery
PENTICTON - A suspect arrested following a robbery at an Oliver liquor store last week is now facing potential criminal charges. The 41-year-old Summerland man was arrested Thursday June 13. He faces potential charges of robbery and disguise with intent. Video surveillance provided by Spud’s Liquor Store show the robber wearing a mask, disguising his...
Storage yard latest target in string of suspected arsons
VERNON - Police and the fire department are investigating a suspicious fire at a Vernon storage yard. It is the seventeenth suspected arson under investigation by authorities. RCMP spokesperson Gord Molendyk says the fire was reported just after midnight Monday morning. The target was a small wooden structure in a storage lot owned by Chapman...
Search for submerged truck and possible occupants postponed due to safety concerns
VERNON - It could be weeks before dive teams can safely search for a submerged truck and the missing person who might be inside it. RCMP spokesperson Gord Molendyk says it’s too dangerous to send divers into fast-moving Shuswap River where a truck reportedly plunged into it. A witness told police the truck went off...
Sheriff’s vehicle set on fire near Vernon courthouse
VERNON - A B.C. Sheriffs car is the latest victim in a series of suspected arsons. RCMP spokesperson Gord Molendyk says the vehicle was parked on 27 Street near the Vernon Courthouse. The RCMP was alerted to the fire around 10:40 p.m. June 12. “When the police attended they noticed a small fire burning beneath...
RCMP warn out-of-town gangsters to stay away
KELOWNA - With summer just around the corner and numerous high draw events on the calendar, the local RCMP are warning out-of-town gang members to stay away from Kelowna. RCMP Const. Kris Clark says police have noticed a considerable rise in gang presence over the past several years, especially during the summer months, and they...
Fiery scene considered suspicious
VERNON - A flaming dumpster in Coldstream is the latest in a series of suspicious fires in the area. The Coldstream fire department was dispatched to the Graystone Drive fire around 11:30 p.m. Tuesday. Six firefighters were at the fire hall that night for training and were able to respond immediately. “As we came down...
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...
UPDATE: Crash near Heffley Creek claims a life
KAMLOOPS - One person is dead after two pickup trucks crashed on Highway 5 north, north of the Rayleigh ball fields Monday afternoon. The male driver was alone in the first pickup truck, travelling north on the Yellowhead Highway, when a second southbound pickup truck crossed the centre line and crashed into him. The man...
Moncton officers honoured in North Okanagan
VERNON - The Vernon RCMP detachment is awash with flowers, candles and condolences from the public in honour of the three fallen officers in Moncton. RCMP spokesperson Gord Molendyk on behalf of the Vernon detachment expressed his thanks at a press conference Monday. “Your support of our members during this time is very much appreciated...
City hopes to add more police in 2015
KAMLOOPS - If the city wants to be considered for new RCMP officers in 2015-2016 a decision will need to be made this week. City council is being asked to authorize a letter of ‘Approval in Principle’ for two new officers. It is believed these officers would be required to help support the proposed nuisance...
Vernon arson tally continues to climb
VERNON - Fire set to an abandoned house and a pleasure boat has added to the list of suspected arsons within the city. Saturday around midnight, Vernon RCMP were called to a fire in an abandoned house in the 3800 block of 30 Avenue. “The rear of the building was totally engulfed when the fire...
Ashcroft homeless man in stable condition following blast
ASHCROFT – Police say a homeless man injured in an explosion last month is in stable condition. Cecil Macdonald, 71, was involved in the blast after trying to light a cigarette near a leaking propane tank in his tent. He had set up camp near a railway siding owned by Ashcroft Terminal. He was rushed to...
How police are using this gadget to curb speeding
VERNON - You can’t completely hide your speed from the cops anymore, even if they aren’t there to catch you in the act. Drivers will notice a new speed reader board circulating around the North Okanagan. The $10,000 gadget was purchased by the cities of Armstrong, Enderby and Township of Spallumcheen as a way to...
Traffic stop results in dial-a-dope arrest
KELOWNA – A traffic stop of a high-end SUV in Kelowna last Friday resulted in the arrest of a man police believe was operating a dial-a-dope service. RCMP Const. Kris Clark says Street Enforcement Teams have been investigating a group of individuals selling drugs out of a rental apartment downtown. Last Friday plainclothes officers conducted...
UPDATE: Okanagan man dies in Vernon accident
VERNON - An Okanagan man is dead after a fatal accident on Highway 97 near Birnie Road. RCMP spokesperson Gord Molendyk says the man was driving a Subaru and veered into an oncoming truck around 2:30 p.m. Wednesday. He died at the scene. A driver and passenger of the truck were taken to hospital with...
Police investigating person of interest in burning hedge
KELOWNA – RCMP are investigating a person of interest who may have information about how a row of hedges caught fire Monday night. Kelowna fire crews were called to a home on Raymer Rd. and Grenfell Cres. at around 9:30 after neighbours reported seeing 30 foot flames coming from a dozen tall cedars on the...
Penticton teen arrested for carrying butcher’s cleaver, bat and hammer
VERNON - A Penticton teen was arrested Monday morning for the possession of weapons, including a butcher’s cleaver and a bat wrapped in electrical tape. A police officer noticed the teen and a second person walking around downtown Vernon near Safeway shortly after midnight while conducting a routine patrol of the area. The teen was...