Despite a few isolated incidents, Penticton RCMP said the busy week that draws in tourists for B.C. Day long weekend and then Peach Festival was relatively peaceful.
There were two robberies instigated by a group of teens last weekend. The group was threatening other youth with bear spray and attempting to take their belongings. One male youth may face charges forwarded by police to Crown counsel related to the robberies.
Another incident involved a traffic stop which led to an arrest relating to a small amount of heroin and possession of a weapon (bear spray).
Supt. Kevin Hewco of the Penticton RCMP said Mounties upped their presence at events during the long weekend and right into Peach Festival.
“Lots of good feedback from the public and I attribute part of that to the fact that we were quite visible and had lots of resources,” Hewco said.
From Aug. 3 to 7 Penticton RCMP responded to 362 total calls for service including 10 assault calls (all types), 19 calls for disturbances, four drug-related calls and nine motor vehicle incidents (including hit and runs and injuries). There were also seven calls for fights, and 11 calls for mischief.
“We were really pleased with how it went, it was a really good weekend for us,” Hewco said. “Yes, we have calls for service, we always do, but the whole atmosphere was positive, peaceful and good family fun event from our perspective.”
The most frequent call types included abandoned 911 calls (either accidental or no incident was found by police), followed by 26 calls for suspicious vehicles, 26 for theft and 26 for traffic incidents.
Penticton RCMP also shared their call stats for the B.C. Day long weekend, July 29 to Aug. 1. Police dealt with 24 calls for theft and 20 calls under the Liquor Act or checking licensed premises. There were 19 traffic incidents and 12 motor vehicle incidents over the long weekend as well as four marine incidents and 13 calls relating to a disturbance.
Shots fired on Winnipeg Street
A man is facing charges after shooting a shotgun three times on Penticton streets, leading police to the discovery of more firearms at a Winnipeg Street residence.
Police located and arrested a 44-year-old Penticton man
without incident on Aug. 5. The man is now facing charges including careless use of a firearm and unauthorized possession of a firearm.
Police said the shots were directed at a trailer on Winnipeg Street. An undisclosed number of firearms including the 12-gauge shotgun used by the male were seized.
Police said they are submitting an application for forfeiture of all the male’s firearms as well as a firearms prohibition.
Staff assaulted at KVS Pub
A male patron at the Kettle Valley Station Pub assaulted a female server, the male bartender as well as a police officer on Aug. 8.
Police said the male was extremely intoxicated and was arrested prior to being released the next day with multiple assault charges.
Bear spray attack
Two males were assaulted with bear spray in Gyro Park on Aug. 8.
RCMP said they believed the incident was one of mistaken identity. A 27-year-old male was intoxicated when police arrested him and found him to be in possession of an undisclosed amount of crystal methamphetamine.
Fake gun scare
On Aug. 4 a 10-year-old boy reported a teenager showed him a pistol in his waistband.
The male was located on Waterford Avenue and was arrested for carrying a concealed weapon, which turned out to be a realistic looking pellet gun.
The male was bound by court-ordered conditions, relating to a previous robbery and assault with a weapon out of the Lower Mainland, not to possess weapons. Police determined no criminal offence took place and the teen was released into the care of a guardian.
Suspicious truck found
A 1992 Ford F-150, reportedly associated with thefts, was located on Peachcliff Place in Okanagan Falls.
Propane tanks located in the back of the truck were stolen a few days prior from a tent trailer in Penticton. The vehicle was towed and paperwork inside had the names of individuals well-known to the police.