Update: 9 am Aug 10:
Brenden Ross Cooper has been charged with one count of robbery and has been remanded in custody until a bail hearing August 16.
Update: 11:35 AM Aug 9/18
A 37 year man is in custody in connection with the holdup of the Sparkes corn stand on Kalamalka Lake Road on Tuesday afternoon.
Vernon RCMP Constable Kelly Brett says a suspect turned himself in late yesterday afternoon.
“Yeah, everybody was a bit shocked that he turned himself in right to the front counter of the Vernon detachment. But, again it just goes to show what the power of social media has and the media in general.”
The suspect turned himself in after the story of the robbery and a picture of a pickup truck used in the getaway made the rounds on social media and CJIB’s website news page.
“The person came into the front counter and asked to speak to a police officer, and at that time the police officer took him into custody obviously what he had told the officer that gave the officer grounds to arrest him for robbery at that time and took him into custody.”
Brett admits it’s not uncommon for people to turn themselves in.
“Yeah, it happens. I mean we’ve had people, all sorts of people come in, you know who have had warrants for their arrest and just realize you know I might as well deal with this now because my face is out there and they get pressured from friends, their family and people around them.”
Brett says the reality is it’s easier to get it off your plate and deal with it because “eventually we’ll catch up with you.”
The pressure from the publicity was too much.
Vernon North Okanagan RCMP say a man suspected in the robbery of a Sparkes corn stand on Kalamalka Road Tuesday afternoon has turned himself in.
Constable Kelly Brett says the alleged robber walked into the RCMP detachment about 4 yesterday afternoon and was taken into custody.
Constable Brett says the fact the picture of the vehicle the suspect used was plastered all over media websites and social media was a major factor in the man’s decision.
She says had it not been for that, it’s likely a suspect would not have been caught.
A 37 year old Vernon man is now facing possible robbery charges and remains in custody.
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Vernon North Okanagan RCMP are asking for the public’s assistance in locating a vehicle and suspect involved in a robbery from a popular Sparkes corn stand.
It happened just before 4:00 pm yesterday at the Sparkes corn stand on Kalamalka Road, near 11th Avenue in Vernon.
RCMP say they were told that a male with a knife allegedly approached the youth employee working at the stand and demanded money.
The employee handed over an undisclosed amount of cash.
The suspect male then drove off in an older style small blue Ford pick-up truck.
“The employee was understandably very shaken up after the incident, however still had the wherewithal to snap a photo of the suspect vehicle as it fled” says Constable Kelly Brett. “There were no injuries sustained during the robbery and the RCMP want to commend the youth employee for complying to avoid any personal injury.”
The suspect is described as being approximately 6’0 tall, with a scruffy blonde and red beard, wearing glasses, a hat and a black t-shirt.
Anyone with any information about this vehicle or person involved in this robbery, you are asked to contact the Vernon North Okanagan RCMP at 250-545-7171.
You can also remain anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477, or leaving a tip online at www.nokscrimestoppers.com.
