Brendan Latimer, 29, is back in custody after he cut off his electronic monitor and was allegedly caught with a stolen vehicle in Kelowna on July 31, 2023.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/Kelowna RCMP
August 01, 2023 - 4:00 PM
Kelowna cops made a "dramatic" arrest Monday after a known criminal removed his electronic monitor and returned to the city.
Brendan Latimer, 29, was caught hiding under a tarp after a foot chase near Banks Road on July 31, after leading officers across two parking lots and into a fenced yard, according to a news release.
A woman called police Monday evening claiming she found her stolen vehicle in a parking lot on the 1500 block of Banks Road. She described a man who got out of the car and entered a nearby store.
Multiple officers were at the scene before he returned. They secured the vehicle and entered the store to find him.
They chased him out of the store, across two parking lots and a street until Latimer jumped a fence and hid under a tarp. He was arrested shortly after, according to Kelowna RCMP.
“If not for the member of the public making the initial call, and the quick response of our officers, this individual surely would have escaped again," Sgt. Desmond Kiehlbauch of the proactive enforcement team said in the news release.
Police said Latimer cut off his electronic monitor on July 13 before he was caught just weeks later. Dubbed a "habitual criminal" by Kelowna RCMP, he is known to run from police and has rammed a police vehicle in an effort to escape custody before, according to the news release.
“Brendan Latimer is a dangerous individual, his actions demonstrate his complete disregard for public safety, the law and the well-being of others,” Kiehlbauch said. “Mr. Latimer has a history of not complying with court conditions when released, the Kelowna RCMP make continued efforts to protect the public from the actions of Mr. Latimer.”
He's in custody and will appear in court for possession of stolen property over $5,000, breach of release order, obstruction and driving while prohibited, police said. He also has outstanding charges for offences in Nakusp, Kelowna and Penticton.
Kelowna RCMP said he also has an outstanding warrant in Alberta for breaching a conditional sentence order.
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