An Oliver man is facing charges after threatening a bystander and fleeing police only to crash on a concrete median.
On April 19, 2016 at approximately 2:30 p.m., Penticton RCMP were alerted of a possible impaired driver operating a pickup truck erratically while driving north on Eastside Road toward Penticton.
The caller followed the vehicle East on Valleyview Road where the driver of the truck exited the vehicle and confronted the caller with a crowbar in a threatening manner.
All available police resources responded and surrounded the area.
The suspect male then got back into his truck and fled at a high rate of speed before losing control and high-centring on a concrete median at Crescent Hill Road. Two female occupants of the truck remained with the vehicle while the suspect male fled on foot and was apprehended a short distance away by police officers where he was taken into custody without incident. There were no injuries as a result of either the accident or the confrontation.
"The persistence and observations of the caller greatly assisted the Police in apprehending this suspect" said Const. Darrell Miller, watch commander on duty. "But I want to remind the public to ensure their own safety and avoid putting themselves in harms way, as this incident could have been a lot worse for all parties."
A 24-year-old male resident of Oliver faces charges of impaired operation of a motor vehicle, assault with a weapon and flight from police as well as further charges under the Motor Vehicle Act. He is expected to be released later tonight for a future court appearance. The vehicle belonged to the male that was taken into custody but was not registered to operate.