Rumours of a knife at youth confrontation spark large police presence in Penticton’s south end

PENTICTON – A large police presence seen in the south end of Penticton appears to have been initiated over a youthful confrontation with respect to a stolen cell phone.

Cpl. Don Wrigglesworth says Penticton RCMP received a call last night, April 3, around 7:20 p.m., regarding a number of youths fighting in the vicinity of 2730 Skaha Lake Road.

Wrigglesworth says initial reports of a knife being brandished proved to be unfounded.

A knife was found at the scene, but was not used, and no one was injured in the incident.

The youths were confronting a 13-year-old about his alleged involvement in the theft of another youth’s cell phone.They appeared appeared to be largely 13 to 14 years of age, he says.

A girl involved in the confrontation eventually led police to a location near the Dollar Tree Store in the Smart Centre-Peachtree Plaza, where the cell phone was found, along with several other items apparently shoplifted from the Dollar Tree Store and Walmart.

The male youth was taken under police escort to the two stores where he was made to return the items.

He was banned from both stores.

Two youth males in the group also ended up in custody after claiming to be homeless. The Ministry of Children and Family Development was contacted and eventually extended family members were reached.

Custody was then turned over to the family members without any charges laid.

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