Federal parolee, Andrew Robert Hardenstine, went missing from Kamloops Jan. 14 and was arrested in Summerland on Feb. 3.
February 05, 2013 - 10:55 AM
A Kamloops federal parolee who skipped town in mid-January was found in the Okanagan over the weekend, three weeks after he was reported missing.
Penticton RCMP arrested 33-year-old Andrew Robert Hardenstine at about 3 p.m. Sunday in a vehicle on Giant's Head Road.
"The detachments in the southeast district were actively working on locating Mr. Hardenstine since the day the warrant was issued," said Corp. Dan Moskaluk, RCMP southeast district spokesperson.
Hardenstine had been missing since Jan. 14 when he left a halfway house in Kamloops and never returned.
A Canada-wide warrant was issued by RCMP for the parolee.
Hardenstine has a criminal history including time in and out of prison. RCMP warned of his criminal history that includes violence.
He was released on parole early January while serving a three year and eight month sentence on two convictions for possession of drugs for the purpose of trafficking including marijuana, ecstasy, crystal meth and cocaine, as well as a weapons related offence.
RCMP issued a public release seeking help in apprehending him, expecting he would travel to the lower mainland or Grand Forks area where he had known associates.
Moskaluk said RCMP won't release details of Hardenstine's investigation that led to his arrest.
"A lot of information was known about Mr. Hardenstine," Moskaluk said. "He's been frequenting the south Okanagan and Okanagan area for a decade."
When Hardenstine was apprehended, two additional occupants in the vehicle fled the scene.
"Investigative efforts are ongoing to confirm the two that fled," Moskaluk said.
However for Moskaluk, Hardenstine was the priority.
"Mr. Hardenstine was arrested without incident," he said.
According to the Penticton court registry, Hardenstine is expected to return to prison before facing the federal parole board for review. He faces no new charges.
— Jessica Wallace
jwallace@infotelnews.ca
(250)319-7494
News from © iNFOnews, 2013