(JENNIFER STAHN / iNFOnews.ca)

Two men were taken into custody yesterday after Vernon RCMP cordoned off a section of Westside Road in an attempt to locate and arrest the men.

According to a Vernon North Okanagan RCMP media release, 30-year-old Robert Heltman and 29-year-old, Dustin Heltman were both arrested without incident after police tracked the suspects from Enderby to Westside Road.

Shortly after 12:30 p.m. yesterday, Dec. 10, RCMP located a suspicious vehicle in the Enderby area that was associated with Robert, who had an outstanding Canada-wide arrest warrant. Police attempted to make contact with the vehicle but it fled at high speed southbound on Highway 97. An RCMP Air Services Unit then tracked the vehicle to a rural property in the area of Westside Road and Clifford Road.

"Once the vehicle was located, frontline officers quickly set up containment around the rural property and with the assistance of the RCMP Emergency Response Team, two males were taken into custody without incident," RCMP Const. Kelly Brett said in the release. "The Vernon RCMP along with multiple other police agencies have been working together to apprehend 30-year-old Robert Heltman, who was captured after being wanted on a Canada wide warrant since July 2020."

Along with Robert's arrest police also arrested Dustin Heltman, a Grinrod resident. Dustin is now facing additional charges of failing to comply with probation orders, breach or recognizance, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, flight from police and driving while prohibited.

"The safety of our community is the utmost priority for the North Okanagan RCMP and we would like to thank the motorists and residents that were near the affected area on Westside Road for their patience while officers worked to bring the two males into custody without incident," Brett said.

In August, police evacuated nearby properties as RCMP surrounded a property on Brooks Lane, in an attempt to arrest Robert, although they were unsuccessful.

The 30-year-old has a lengthy criminal record, for theft, assault, and possessing weapons, along with multiple breaches.

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