Penticton RCMP vehicles rammed as suspected pickup thief attempts to get away

PENTICTON – Penticton RCMP have two people in custody following two attempts to flee from police custody by ramming an RCMP vehicle.

Members of the Targeted Enforcement Unit saw a stolen vehicle at a Penticton motel yesterday, Jan. 22, around noon, according to an RCMP media release.

When officers attempted to arrest the driver and a female passenger, the suspect reversed the stolen truck into the police vehicle and was able to flee the parking lot.

Police located the same suspect vehicle a short time later near the Twin Lakes gas station on Highway 3A. When the driver saw police moving in, he got into the allegedly stolen truck and rammed another police vehicle, driving out of the gas station and onto the highway before losing partial control of the vehicle.

This time officers were able to nudge the truck into the ditch.

Both the driver and the passenger jumped out of the truck and took off on foot, but were caught by a police dog and arrested.

RCMP say Ronald Stewart, 43, and his unidentified passenger are in custody facing numerous charges including assaulting a police officer with a weapon, possessing stolen property and dangerous driving.

“Criminals using vehicles to ram police vehicles are becoming increasingly common. Having no regard for public or police safety, this type of despicable behaviour will not be tolerated," Cpl. Van Every with the Targeted Enforcement Unit said in the release.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Steve Arstad or call 250-488-3065 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above.