Stolen Vehicle Mayhem

A man is in custody after an incident in Vernon police are calling ‘stolen vehicle mayhem.’

Police say the initial report of a possible impaired driver resulted in an arrest and the recovery of two stolen vehicles in Okanagan Landing Tuesday evening.

RCMP were called after a small car crashed in the Tronson Road area.

“Witnesses reported that the driver and passenger fled the vehicle after hitting a large rock causing both airbags to deploy,” says Cpl. Dan Moskaluk. “The passenger female walked away while the male stole a small bicycle from a neighbouring residence. The male then jumped into a large commercial truck parked running at roadside. The driver of the truck was nearby, discussing where he was going to place a delivery with his client at the time. The suspect then backed the truck into a parked Jeep Grand Cherokee pushing it out of his way. The suspect then continued backwards at a high rate of speed down a hill in this rural residential area.”

As the suspect attempted to leave the area, a police officer noticed the truck and nearby witnesses. The suspect did manage to depart the area after the officer deployed a spike belt which was ineffective at stopping or slowing the truck. The driver narrowly missed the officer.

The truck continued on but crashed about 1 km further up the road, rolling the vehicle onto its side.

“RCMP officers converged on the vehicle and took the man into custody without further incident, as he was unable to get out of the overturned truck,” says Moskaluk.

The man was taken by ambulance to hospital and released to police custody that night.

Investigators made a blood demand to the individual in order to determine whether the man’s ability to operate a vehicle was impaired by alcohol or drugs.

The male was held in custody, pending a court appearance.