‘Turtles’ lure man to Holden Road residence

PENTICTON – Thefts and mayhem on the road following the first significant snowfall of the season kept Penticton RCMP busy last week.

Police responded to an address on Holden Road at 3 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 17, after receiving calls of a man trying to push his way through the patio door, Penticton RCMP media spokesperson Cpl. Don Wrigglesworth says. Police arrived to find a man on the patio and arrested him for trespassing.

The man, who claimed turtles brought him to the residence, was released the man from custody after he’d had a chance to sober up, and no charges were laid.

Half an hour later, in an unrelated incident, police were advised of a man attempting to enter a vacant Wade Avenue residence.

They arrived to find him yelling and swearing at them from a second floor window. He was arrested, found to be carrying drugs and charged with causing a disturbance and drug possession. He was later released on a promise to appear.

Police handled a number of traffic incidents last Thursday afternoon, Dec 17, following a brief but intense flurry of snow in the region.

A cyclist and vehicle collision took place at the intersection of Main Street and Industrial Avenue, resulting in minor injuries to the cyclist, who was using the sidewalk. A single vehicle crash near Sendero Canyon involving a Subaru Legacy resulted in two men being taken to hospital, one in serious condition, and a Mustang driven north of Penticton on Highway 97 hit a concrete barrier after losing control. The Mustang was in turn hit by a Toyota van. No serious injuries were reported. A Dodge Neon collided with a power pole at the intersection of Orchard Avenue and Eckhardt Avenue Thursday afternoon. The driver was tended to by B.C. Ambulance, then driven home by police. 

A black Cadillac, B.C. plate number AH6 16G, was reported stolen from Penticton Collision overnight Thursday.

A man labelled a prolific offender by police was arrested for shoplifting Waterpik toothbrushes from Penticton Walmart on Friday night, Dec. 18.

Saturday evening a Dodge Durango parked at the Barley Mil brew pub was broken into. Thieves smashed the back hatch and side windows to gain entry. Cash, gift cards, electronics, and an urn containing the owner’s mother’s ashes were taken.

A King Street residence was broken into Sunday, Dec. 19, between 4:30 p.m. and 8:30 a.m. Thieves made off with two laptops, two Canon DSLR cameras, jewelry, a wallet, clothing, credit cards and Christmas presents. Evidence at the scene included a single set of footprints in the snow. The police investigation continues.

Police also investigated a break-in at a shed located on Ellis Street. Sometime between 9 p.m. Sunday and 8 a.m. Monday, thieves took a drill, skis, and sports rackets. Police are continuing their investigation.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Steve Arstad at sarstad@infonews.ca or call 250-488-3065. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.