North Okanagan RCMP track stolen vehicle from the air, then arrest driver

VERNON – A Vernon man spent the night in custody after a police air unit tracked a stolen vehicle he was driving, allowing officers on the ground to then arrest him.

A Vernon North Okanagan RCMP media release says police received a call shortly after 11 a.m. yesterday, Apr. 8, about a suspected stolen vehicle travelling at high speed south on Highway 97 near Otter Lake Cross Road. The vehicle turned off the highway and drove east up Silver Star Road.

An RCMP Air Services unit tracked the vehicle to an address in the 6100 block of Silver Star Road. Officers arrested a 32-year-old man and a 46-year-old woman, both from Vernon.

"The top priority of the responding units is to ensure public safety, therefore a swift and well executed containment of the area was made by front line officers and the two occupants of the vehicle were taken into custody without incident," RCMP Const. Kelly Brett said in the release.

The suspect remained in custody overnight and faces possible charges of possession of stolen property obtained by crime. The woman was released from custody without charge.

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