A Vernon man has been convicted in relation to a number of drug and firearm offences dating back to the spring.
On April 8, Vernon-North Okanagan RCMP officers stopped a vehicle to arrest the passenger on outstanding warrants. The passenger and driver, both males, attempted to flee from police on foot, but were arrested in close proximity to the vehicle stop.
A search of the vehicle led to the seizure of a loaded .22 semi-automatic pistol.
The next day, investigators executed a search warrant on a storage locker in relation to the men where additional firearms, drugs and stolen property were seized.
Seized items included an additional handgun; two sawed-off shotguns; three semi-automatic assault rifles; assorted ammunition; a large quantity of heroin and other drug trafficking paraphernalia; numerous stolen automotive parts valued at more than $11,000 taken during commercial break-and-enters in Penticton.
Taras Horst Becker, born in 1988, was convicted Monday and sentenced to 30 months in jail on numerous charges stemming from this file: 23 counts of firearms related charges; four counts of possession of stolen property; two counts of possession of a controlled substance.
“The Vernon RCMP Task Force dedicated numerous hours to this investigation which resulted in the conviction of Becker,” said RCMP spokesperson Const. Kelly. BRETT. “The RCMP is pleased the investigation resulted in the seizure of numerous weapons, drugs and stolen property, thus solidifying the detachment’s commitment to reducing crime in Vernon.”