(JENNIFER STAHN / iNFOnews.ca)

KELOWNA - Lake Country residents finally have an answer about why an RCMP plane was circling above them yesterday.

The Lake Country community Facebook group was abuzz with queries about an RCMP plane patrolling the town. Now Cpl. Jesse O'Donaghey says in a media release it was a multi-jurisdiction chase that started at approximately 1:30 p.m. yesterday, May 7.

Lake Country RCMP were called upon to assist Vernon RCMP in searching for a suspect vehicle associated to a complaint in their area of jurisdiction. It was last seen headed towards the District of Lake Country and officers spotted what they believed to be the suspect vehicle, a black Honda Prelude, which allegedly failed to stop for police.

The vehicle, which was later determined not to be related to the original Vernon complaint, fled into the Carrs Landing area, being driven at high rates of speed and in a dangerous manner. A RCMP fixed wing aircraft responded to the area from Kelowna and supported front line officers in monitoring the Honda's movements from above.

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"No matter which way he turned, the suspect found himself driving towards police who were already in the area. A spike belt deployed by a member of the Lake Country RCMP, along Barkley Road, effectively disabled the vehicle," Cpl. Jesse O'Donaghey in the release. "The driver and an unidentified passenger eventually ditched the vehicle and fled on foot."

With the assistance of the RCMP plane, Vernon RCMP plain clothes officers and frontline Lake Country RCMP officers located the suspect driver who was taken into police custody. The unidentified passenger remains outstanding as police continue to investigate.

A 31-year-old Kelowna man faces potential criminal charges and remains in police custody at this time.

Anyone with any additional information is asked to contact the Lake Country RCMP at 250-766-2288.

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