Kelowna RCMP's fixed wing aircraft was used to stop a suspected impaired driver in Lake Country today.
Image Credit: FILE PHOTO
October 12, 2017 - 3:06 PM
LAKE COUNTRY – It took three RCMP spike belts to stop a Vernon man suspected of driving high who fled a traffic stop today.
Shortly after 10:30 a.m. today, Oct. 12, RCMP received a report of someone driving a Honda Civic erratically along Highway 97 in Kelowna.
Cpl. Jesse O’Donaghey says in a media release police pulled the driver over near Leathead Road and noticed “obvious signs and symptoms” of impairment.
“Within moments of being stopped, the suspect put his vehicle into gear and fled northbound on the highway toward Lake Country,” O’Donaghey says.
An RCMP fixed wing aircraft was immediately launched while police on the ground tried twice to disable the vehicle using spike belts.
“Officers were successful in their third attempt of deploying a spike belt, on Highway 97 near Oceola Road in Lake Country, which effectively deflated the tires of the suspect vehicle,” O’Donaghey says.
“Police have seized undisclosed quantities of suspected illicit drugs during the man’s arrest.”
The 34-year-old Vernon man was taken to the Kelowna RCMP detachment where he will undergo a drug influence evaluation. He remains in police custody at this time.
If you witnessed this incident and have not yet spoken to police you are asked to contact Const. Brad Smith of the Kelowna RCMP Municipal Traffic Section at 250-762-3300.
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