RCMP have arrested the man who blocked the William R. Bennett bridge with his van Monday.
Image Credit: Fenn Yeomans
January 27, 2025 - 12:58 PM
RCMP have arrested the man who blocked the William R. Bennett bridge with his van Monday.
Traffic on Highway 97 over the bridge through Kelowna reopened roughly 10 hours after it was closed by police early in the morning.
The RCMP Explosive Disposal Unit from Vancouver arrived and deemed it safe for transport and took it off the bridge around 2:18 p.m., RCMP said.
“This investigation remains ongoing and no further details will be provided at this time,” Kelowna RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Michael Gauthier said in a statement.
A man blocked the bridge over Okanagan Lake with a van and RCMP Insp. Chris Goebel said at a press event Monday the suspect had been arrested and taken to hospital.
“At approximately 3:45 a.m. our officers responded to a distraught man who parked his white panel van across both eastbound lanes of the William R. Bennett bridge. The man had made some threatening comments to the police concerning his own wellbeing before starting a fire in the vehicle,” Goebel said.
The Kelowna Fire Department was on scene and put the fire out right away.
Police convinced the man to exit the van, arrested him and took him to hospital. Police did not say whether the man had any injuries.
Roy Winter made concerning comments on social media about blocking the bridge, as well as sending emails to media outlets. RCMP did not confirm whether the suspect arrested on the bridge was Winter.
READ MORE: iN VIDEO: Kelowna man who shut Bennett bridge blames RCMP for ruining his life
"Inside this vehicle is 60 pounds of highly volatile material that requires nothing more than a stupid human to make a simple mistake and regret their decision," Winter posted to social media. "The doors of this vehicle have been sealed shut so don’t even think that you will be able to open them up, if you try just remember the phrase I will introduce you to GOD at the same time I introduce myself."
RCMP said officers were at a home in the Rutland neighbourhood in relation to the incident on the bridge, but did not confirm it’s Winter’s home.
“Risk assessment of the vehicle’s contents coupled with the man’s comments both over the phone and online resulted in both the Southeast District Emergency Response Team and BC RCMP Explosive Disposal unit being deployed,” Insp. Goebel said.
The RCMP explosive disposal unit had to travel from the Lower Mainland.
“The known contents of the van alone present a significant risk to public safety, however, it is unclear if there are additional materials of concern. A search of the vehicle would place emergency personnel in undue risk,” Insp. Goebel said.
While the bridge was closed, commuters tried to use Forest Service Road 201 and RCMP warned it was not a safe detour. Police said several drivers became stuck on the back road and search and rescue teams were called to help them.
— This article was updated at 2:55 p.m. Monday, Jan. 27, 2025 with new information from RCMP and to say the bridge had reopened.
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