How a social media connection led to the arrest of a wanted man in Kamloops | iNFOnews | Thompson-Okanagan's News Source
Subscribe

Would you like to subscribe to our newsletter?

Kamloops News

How a social media connection led to the arrest of a wanted man in Kamloops

A warrant was issued for Kyle Deline after he failed to appear in court on July 29. The warrant was issued the next day.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/Kamloops RCMP

A man wanted on suspicion of armed robbery in Kamloops is back in custody after a social media connection helped flag RCMP of his whereabouts.

Kamloops RCMP issued a warrant for Kyle Deline's arrest on July 30 after he failed to show for a court date the day before. He had initially been arrested on July 13 in relation to an April armed robbery at Aberdeen Mall.

He was arrested at Star Lodge on Columbia Street West on Aug. 14, with the help of the manager of a nearby business and an off duty police officer.

Terry McManaman connected with a Kamloops RCMP officer on a local Facebook group after he raised concerns online about conditional releases, specifically in relation to Deline's failure to appear for his court date in July.

Like a virtual block-watch, McManaman used the Facebook group connection to lead RCMP to the wanted offender.

READ MORE: Arson suspected in custody after bushes lit on fire in Kelowna

McManaman told iNFOnews.ca that he regularly sees Deline in his business and that he has shoplifted from the store before. So each time McManaman was made aware that Deline was back at Star Lodge, he would contact the officer.

"(Deline) used to come in all the time and fill a basket with groceries and run. He'd steal weekly and we could never catch him," McManaman said. "But a guy that lives in Star Lodge that's a regular customer — he'd let me know when Deline was in."

According to McManaman, there was a delay between Deline's arrival at the motel and RCMP response, so it took a few times before an arrest was made, but on the afternoon of Aug. 14, police arrived to make the arrest.

READ MORE: Okanagan drought killing fish and exposing need for major water management change

"This was all because of the Facebook group. I read a lot on there and there's a lot of worry about vigilantism, but I don't think that's the case," McManaman said. "All thanks to meeting each other on (Kamloops Citizens for Change) dedicated to making Kamloops safer."

In the process of the Saturday afternoon arrest, Deline allegedly resisted arrest and gained another charge, according to RCMP. He is scheduled for a bail hearing on Aug. 30, 2021 where his charges will include robbery and resisting arrest.


To contact a reporter for this story, email Levi Landry or call 250-819-3723 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above. 

News from © iNFOnews, 2021
iNFOnews

  • Popular vernon News
View Site in: Desktop | Mobile