Update: Police Activity Was Due to Kidnapping; Victim Located in Falkland

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“After the robbery, police believed the suspects took the woman against her will in one of the other victim’s vehicles,” says Cpl. Jodi Shelkie.

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“Through subsequent investigation it was learned that the suspects may attend a residence on Dallas Drive. Officers secured the area and ultimately determined that the home had been ransacked and now was empty. The temporary cordon on Dallas Drive was removed allowing traffic to the area to resume.”

The victim’s stolen vehicle was later found empty in an area near Barnhartvale Road and Highway 97.

Further investigation led police to an apartment on Bernard Avenue in Kelowna, which is where four people of interest were later arrested.

“Unfortunately, the victim was not located at this address but one of the robbery suspects was arrested,” says Shelkie.

Friday morning, police determined that the captive woman could be in a vehicle travelling from Kelowna to Kamloops. This vehicle was stopped by police near Falkland.

“Officers arrested a male and a female suspect and located the kidnapped female. Thankfully, the woman was uninjured. Firearms were also seized from this vehicle.”

Kamloops RCMP thank the media and the community for their patience during this ongoing and fluid investigation.

“We are committed the safety of the community and would have communicated any immediate public safety concerns, however the situation was dynamic and unfolding. While the investigation was ongoing, what may have been perceived as lack of communication, was a measured, operational strategy.”

Shelkie says their first and foremost concern was for the woman who had been kidnapped.

“The danger that she was in cannot be overemphasized. Officers knew that the suspects were armed. It was unknown what their intent was regarding her life. Few details could be released to the media to protect our investigation and ultimately, help get this woman back to safety.”

Shelkie says the investigation is ongoing and police are working to identify and locate the second suspect involved in the robbery.

“It is clear this was a targeted crime and involved participants in the local Kamloops drug trade.”

Numerous serious charges are expected against the suspect arrested in Kelowna.

As for the Kelowna part of the story, police say the incident culminated with officers converging on an apartment building in the 1100 block of Bernard Avenue where four people were arrested.

“With the safety of the hostage victim, the responding police officers and the general public in mind, the incident prompted the temporary closure of roadways in the immediate area and a temporary hold and secure of nearby businesses,” says RCMP Cpl. Jesse O’Donaghey. “The unfolding events concluded with the apprehension of four individuals of interest, including two men and two women and the seizure of a vehicle.”

O’Donaghey is thanking the media and the general public, especially those impacted by the tactical police operation, for their patience, understanding and full cooperation.

RCMP continue to secure that scene as investigators work to obtain a search warrant for the residence.

“The Kelowna RCMP Serious Crimes Unit and Forensic Identification Section continue to fully support the Kamloops RCMP in their ongoing investigation. Due to the nature of the still ongoing investigation, no further information is being released at this time,” adds O’Donaghey.

RCMP have yet to release details on an incident in downtown Kelowna Thursday afternoon.

Heavily armed police swarmed a building on Bernard and reports say a man was taken away in handcuffs.

What we don’t know is why, or if it was related to an incident that apparently started earlier in the day in Kamloops and had police racing through Vernon on their way to Kelowna.

5 pm Feb. 14

We now have a better idea why police vehicles were seen speeding through Vernon this afternoon.

It appears they were on their way from an “unfolding incident” in Kamloops to Kelowna for what appears to be a serious incident there.

“I can confirm that RCMP are in the Kelowna area conducting an investigation,” said RCMP Cpl. Jesse O’Donaghey.

Police are asking media to avoid publishing any details or photos about the presence of police or movement of our officers to ensure public and police safety.

It’s not known if there is any connection between the incidents in Kamloops and Kelowna.

Corporal Jodi Shelki from Kamloops RCMP said earlier today, their incident was still unfolding and a press release would be released as soon as the situation stabilizes.

A procession of fast moving police vehicles travelling on the highway was hard to miss in the Vernon area.

And while police are not confirming it, the vehicles may be connected to an “unfolding incident” in Kamloops.

Our newsroom has received several calls from people reporting at least seven unmarked RCMP vehicles with their lights and sirens on moving at a high rate of speed from Falkland, into Vernon and then south to Kelowna this afternoon.

“A group of police cars, seven of them, went through town and headed south,” says a driver who encountered the vehicles at the Fruit Union Plaza intersection at Highway 97 and 25th Avenue. “Lights and sirens, and just flying. A lot of them were black and unmarked, Chevy Tahoes type thing. I don’t know whether (Prime Minister) Trudeau is in the area or what it is. I ended up almost getting nailed. I just saw them in the mirror and pulled over. One went past and them a whole string of them went past me up Hospital Hill,” the driver tells Beach Radio News.

Vernon RCMP Constable and media relations person Kelly Brett was not aware of what the vehicles were doing.

There is an incident in Kamloops today involving an “unfolding situation” in that city, where officers were present at numerous locations throughout the area, but Cpl. Jodi Shelki from Kamloops RCMP was not able to confirm if the vehicles were related to the incident in that city.

“This is still unfolding and a press release will come out as soon as the situation stabilizes,” said Shelki in an email to Beach Radio News.

“I have not been made aware of the specific movements of emergency police vehicles across the Okanagan. I will however look into your query and provide you with further information, should some become available to me to share,” said  Cpl. Jesse O’Donaghey of Kelowna RCMP.

Sgt. Janelle Shoihet, Media Relations Officer, RCMP E Division Communication Services, was also not aware of what the vehicles were doing.