Jason Hardy, 42, was found dead in Polson Park Aug. 26, 2015. Three people have now been charged with his murder.

(CHARLOTTE HELSTON / iNFOnews.ca)

VERNON - Police have arrested a third person for murder in connection with the death of 42-year-old Jason Hardy, whose body was found in Polson Park Aug. 26.

Tal Kalum La Riviere, 28, from Greater Vernon, was arrested in Kamloops Sept. 9 and charged with one count of second degree murder.

He was scheduled to make an appearance in Kamloops Provincial Court Thursday, Sept. 10. 

Brandon Joseph Clayton Wellington, 18, and a 14-year-old whose name is protected under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, already face second degree murder charges in relation to Hardy’s death.

RCMP Const. Jocelyn Noseworthy says the arrest is the result of an intensive investigation and public tips.

“What we’ve been doing is good old fashioned police work, talking to people and following where the evidence leads us,” Noseworthy says.

The investigation remains active, with the detachment’s serious crime unit, general duty officers and other specialized sections working the case, Noseworthy says.

Noseworthy wouldn’t comment on whether police believe there are additional suspects involved in the offence, or if more charges are expected to be laid. Little information is being released about the investigation itself, such as Hardy’s cause of death, whether the offence is believed to have been committed in Polson Park, or if there were any witnesses.

Police believe Hardy’s death was a targeted offence, and Noseworthy says there is no risk to the public.

Wellington was ordered not to contact La Riviere, or the 14-year-old, during a court appearance in Vernon Sept. 9.

La Riviere was also charged with an assault causing bodily harm charge stemming from an Aug. 25 offence, and theft $5,000 or under from Aug. 26, but Noseworthy says those charges are unrelated to the Hardy murder investigation.

The investigation into Hardy’s death is ongoing and police continue to appeal for information from the public.

You can contact the Vernon RCMP detachment at 250-545-7171 or remain anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Charlotte Helston at chelston@infonews.ca or call 250-309-5230. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724. 

— This story was updated at 3:15 p.m. Sept. 10, 2015, to say the location of La Riviere's arrest was in Kamloops, and that he was scheduled to appear in court Sept. 10 and again at 3:53 p.m. to add quotes from Const. Jocelyn Noseworthy. 

News from © iNFOnews, 2015