PENTICTON - A number of vehicle offences, as well as thefts and arson, kept local RCMP officers busy last week as the city settled into the fall season.

On Wednesday, Sept. 23, police responded to reports of a vehicle’s side window being smashed at 150 Skaha Pl. in the early morning hours. A phone charger was reported stolen from the vehicle, and police continue to look for a male suspect of 150 to 175 pounds, 5'11" to 6' tall, wearing large lens sunglasses, a tan puffy coat and blue board shorts.

A break in was also reported Sept. 23 at a Penticton construction site, where a torch was used to cut three locks on a Sea-Can storage container. Tools, with the intitials 'A.M.S' engraved on them, and fixtures were stolen. 

Around 2:30 p.m. that day a Chevrolet Avalanche was reported stolen from Fairford Avenue, after the owner left keys in the vehicle. A half an hour later the vehicle was spotted by a resident on Eastside Road after the driver pulled over to change a flat. The driver then sped off without making the change but police found the vehicle in a back alley on Ninth Avenue in Okanagan Falls a short time later. A man matching the description of the driver was found nearby. Amos Atkins, a 26-year-old Penticton resident, was charged with possession of stolen property over $5,000 and operation of a motor vehicle while prohibited. He was held for court and remanded to Kamloops.

A warrant was issued last week for Seamus Ronald Kirby on Sept. 22 for  failure to comply. He was sighted Wednesday night at a Maurice Street residence, but eluded police by fleeing the house through a back window.

On Friday afternoon, Sept. 25, police received a report around 1:50 p.m. of impaired occupants of a red Toyota Echo parked across the street from the courthouse. Upon arrival, officers found two men who appeared to be impaired, with the driver intoxicated and the passenger unresponsive. An ambulance was called and the passenger was transported to hospital. Breath samples from the driver failed and a 90-day Immediate Roadside Prohibition was issued. 

On Friday evening an unknown man dumped gasoline in front of a unit of the Bowmont Motel and lit it on fire. The fire was extinguished with minimal damage and the man was picked up by police Saturday night and held in custody.

At 3:20 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, a silver Pontiac Sunfire was observed driving erratically on the Channel Parkway. Police attempted to intercept the vehicle at Green Mountain Road when it took off at a high rate of speed. Police did not pursue the vehicle. The registered owner, who was at work at the time, thought the vehicle was at home.

The Cherry Lane Liquor Store suffered a broken window Monday, Sept. 28, around 1 a.m. Police are unsure if entry was gained into the building.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Steve Arstad at sarstad@infonews.ca or call 250-488-3065. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.

News from © iNFOnews, 2015