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(KIM ANDERSON / iNFOnews.ca)
May 30, 2023 - 11:27 AM
A Tumbler Ridge man fled Kamloops RCMP into Chase before he was caught Saturday evening.
Police were called about suspected stolen truck in the 1000 block of Hillside Drive just before 7 p.m., May 27, but the driver fled toward Chase as they tried to stop him.
A spike belt was used in Chase to stop the truck. Officers arrested the female passenger but the driver fled on foot, according to a Kamloops RCMP news release.
“The male driver allegedly stole a paddle boat to get up the river, where he located and asked an area resident to give him a ride to town, claiming his boat had capsized,” Staff Sgt. Janelle Shoihet of Kamloops RCMP said in the news release.
He was successful, but the resident was clearly skeptical of the man.
“The resident agreed to drive him, but encountered a patrolling RCMP officer and stopped to speak with him. The officer confirmed the passenger was being sought by police, and the suspect was arrested without incident," Shoihet said.
Kelly Dean Gerk, 23, answered for a warrant he had for breaching release orders on May 28. He's also facing new charges. He's been charged with flight from police, possession of stolen property and two new breaches.
The female passenger, also a 23-year-old from Tumbler Ridge, was released without charges.
Gerk is scheduled to appear in court today, May 30.
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