City Park promenade in downtown Kelowna.
(JOHN MCDONALD / iNFOnews.ca)
August 07, 2019 - 5:37 AM
KELOWNA - It was a long night in Kelowna's City Park last night as the RCMP Explosive Disposal Unit was called to ensure a potentially explosive device was contained.
Sgt. Mike Cooke of Kelowna RCMP says they were called to the park shortly after 8 p.m. Aug. 6. where the device was found near the public washrooms on the beach. Police evacuated the area and called in the bomb squad.
Around 4:24 a.m., police said they had confirmed it was not an explosive.
"The police are still examining the item however at this particular junction it is believed to be a smoke grenade," Cooke says.
A 26-year-old man was arrested at the scene but released. RCMP say he could face charges.
Meanwhile, RCMP issued a subsequent media release later in the day saying the original call was about a possible stabbing.
“Police officers who were first on scene pursued the suspect, believed to be armed with a knife, on foot towards the water,” Kelowna RCMP media liaison Cpl. Jesse O’Donaghey said in the release. “According to bystanders the suspect fell from his bike and was observed burying an unknown item in the vicinity of the beachfront public washrooms, before being taken into police custody without further incident.”
Turns out the original victim was sprayed with bear mace, not stabbed, and his injuries weren't considered life-threatening. Plus, police say the bear spray victim is now accused of stealing a cell phone during the incident and is facing possible charges.
— This story was updated at 12:37 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2019, to include new information from RCMP.
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