UPDATE: Arrests made in Vernon highway take-down

Jul 13, 2023 | 10:26 AM

RCMP say a high profile arrest involving multiple police vehicles and officers in Vernon, was dealing with a hit and run suspect.

The incident came to a dramatic conclusion on Highway 97 near the Army Camp Wednesday, July 12, when a vehicle was stopped and three people were arrested as officers had their guns drawn.

RCMP say at around 5:30 p.m., an officer from the Vernon North Okanagan RCMP located a suspected crime vehicle driving in an East Hill neighbourhood near the 1500-block of 37th Ave.

“The vehicle, a white Volkswagen Tiguan, was allegedly involved in several incidents recently reported to police, including a hit and run collision near Tronson Road earlier that day,” Const. Chris Terleski, media relations officer, said.

“As additional officers began to mobilize to the area, an officer found the vehicle near the intersection of 25th Ave and 32nd St. The officer activated their emergency lights and pulled in front of the suspect vehicle that was stopped in traffic.

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“The driver of the vehicle reversed, then drove ahead, hitting the front corner of the police vehicle before it fled south on Highway 97,” Terleski explained.

Additional officers quickly tracked down and contained the damaged vehicle on Highway 97 near the Army Camp.

The three occupants of the vehicle were arrested and taken into custody without incident.

“This was a dynamic situation that unfolded very quickly,” Terleski said. “Our frontline officers did a very good job ensuring it did not escalate preventing any further risk to the public.”

Two of the three occupants, all from the Lower Mainland, were later released from custody.

The driver, a 28-year-old Surrey man, remains in police custody and is expected to appear in court July 13.

Original story

Police have yet to release details on a high-profile arrest on Highway 97 in Vernon Wednesday afternoon.

Reports say traffic was stopped at the top of Hospital Hill near the Army Camp around 5:45 p.m. Multiple police vehicles and officers were involved.

Mounties had their guns drawn as they made an arrest of a man who was in a white SUV.

Video from the scene showed armed officers surrounding the vehicle, followed by a man exiting it and laying down on the pavement as officers apprehended him.

“This was crazy driving by it,” said one person on social media.

Vernon Matters has reached out to RCMP for details.

by Pete McIntyre

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