Kamloops RCMP at the Canada's Best Value Inn and Suites on Columbia Street on Oct. 4, 2021.

(LEVI LANDRY / iNFOnews.ca)

Two Kamloops hotels were surrounded this morning with multiple armed RCMP officers and at least one person in custody.

Police first notified the public of an ongoing investigation at Canada's Best Value Inn and Suites (formerly Acadian Inn) around 11 a.m., Oct. 4, shortly before the arrest was made.

Tristan Fernandez, 25, was arrested in an operation involving numerous officers, some carrying rifles, along with the assistance of the police dog service.

The officers set up a perimeter around the motel to locate Fernandez and he was finally cuffed around 11:30 a.m., according to a Kamloops RCMP media release.

A warrant had been previously issued for Fernandez's arrest in relation to a robbery on Aug. 3.

When Kamloops RCMP spotted him entering the Columbia Street motel around 9 a.m. today they quickly created a perimeter to find him before he left the area.

Around 12 p.m., Kamloops RCMP also surrounded a motel on the 1700 block of the Trans-Canada Highway service road in Valleyview and blocked traffic from entering the service road from Vicars Road to the 1600 block of Valleyview Drive.

The emergency response team from B.C. RCMP Southeast District helped Kamloops RCMP as they responded the the Valleyview motel until 3:30 p.m. Kamloops RCMP remained on the scene.

Police have recommended Kamloops Kidz daycare be placed on hold and secure, which is located at the Ralph Bell elementary, while they continue to investigate.

Traffic in the Valleyview area continues to be rerouted.

Fernandez was arrested in relation to the early August robbery in the 1300 block of Battle Street, near the Columbia Street motel. On the day of the robbery, Kamloops RCMP said the blue Plymouth used as a getaway vehicle was stolen at least one day earlier and was found burning at Riverside Park after the robbery.

At the time, police said there were three suspects in the vehicle, but no arrests were made until today.

It's unclear if the incidents at the two motels are related.

— This story was updated at 1 p.m., Oct. 4, 2021.

— This story was updated at 3:13 p.m., Oct. 4, 2021, with new information from Kamloops RCMP.

— This story was updated at 3:45 p.m., Oct. 4, 2021, with new information from Kamloops RCMP.

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