At 11:11 a.m. on June 13, 100 Mile House RCMP received information from Kamloops RCMP regarding a stolen 1999 Mercury Sable that may be headed north to their area.
A while later, a further update was received that this stolen vehicle had been linked to a theft at the Clinton liquor store.
The suspect vehicle went by police at a high rate of speed near the Highway 24 intersection with Highway 97 and was later located parked in the driveway of residence on Elefson Road, just south of Highway 24.
A search for the suspects was initiated by a police dog handler out of Williams Lake, but called off later in the afternoon when the track was lost at Highway 97. A police helicopter was also brought in for aerial surveillance.
The next morning (June 14), police recognized the suspects from their clothing, and two fled into the bush. Officers arrested a 26-year-old Kamloops man, who was associated to the stolen vehicle, behind the bus depot. He had two prohibited weapons.
Police Dog Services along with a police helicopter were brought back in to assist in the search for the other missing suspects. Shortly thereafter, an 18-year-old Cranbrook man and 24-year-old Williams Lake man were taken into custody without incident at the ball diamonds in 100 Mile House.
When the stolen vehicle was searched, a homemade improvised explosive device was found in the vehicle. The explosive disposal unit from Vancouver was flown in and the device was safely detonated around 7 p.m.
All three men were remanded into custody for a court appearance on June 17 in 100 Mile House.
Two firearms were stolen from a vehicle in 100 Mile House in the early morning hours of June 14, which are believed to be associated to these individuals. Information led police to believe these firearms had been hidden in the bush area near the Forestry compound on Highway 97. When police went to that location, however, the firearms were not located.
100 Mile RCMP ask if these two firearms are located by members of the public, or if someone has information regarding their location to call 9-1-1 or the local detachment at 250-395-2456 immediately.
