By Pete McIntyre

Update: Police swarm downtown site

Jun 24, 2019 | 4:21 PM

RCMP officers on bikes are getting credit for helping in the arrest of a stolen vehicle suspect in Vernon.

Police say an RCMP bike patrol officer observed a suspected stolen vehicle while conducting patrols in the area of 25th Avenue and 34th Street around 2 p.m. Monday.

“The officer approached the vehicle in an attempt to arrest the driver. The driver then fled on foot and a short foot pursuit ensued. The suspect was taken into custody by the bike patrol officer, however a multi-unit police response could be seen in the area at the time of the arrest,” Const. Kelly Brett, the Vernon RCMP media relations officer, said.

The vehicle, a white Mercedes, was allegedly stolen out of Burnaby.

The driver, a 30-year-old Kelowna man, is facing possible charges of possession of stolen property and obstructing a police officer.

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The incident played out at a site on 32nd Avenue, just west of the Beach Radio building, with six police vehicles on site.

However, that address and its occupants had nothing to do with the incident.

“Bike patrols officers often go un-detected in certain areas and are able to roll up in the right place at the right time. They are a key component to our front line policing,” Brett said. “This was great work by all the frontline officers involved, as stolen vehicles are often used to commit further offences.”

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Original:

There was a heavy police presence in downtown Vernon this afternoon.

About six police vehicles surrounded a site near a home in the 3400 block of 32nd Avenue.

Officers appeared to seize some items out of a vehicle and later had the vehicle towed from the scene.

32nd Avenue

Vernon Matters has requested details from RCMP.

A resident of the home where the police activity took place says in an email to Vernon Matters, his household and it’s occupants were in no way associated with the event.

“An unknown party haphazardly chose to abandon their vehicle, and run through not only our yard but our neighbors yard as well. There was no mention of anybody who actually lives here.”

The resident added “we are taxpaying, law abiding, working class citizens and we refuse to be implicated in any nefarious activity. Thank you.”