Sometimes, RCMP officers get help on their job when they least expect it.
Case in point: March 16.
Officers from the Vernon RCMP’s community response unit were preparing to execute a search warrant at a home in the 1900 block of 44th Street under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.
The homeowner was arrested that day near Okanagan Spring Brewery. He was taken into custody by RCMP who had prior knowledge of the case and because of the man’s violent past.
“That arrest was considered a high-risk takedown as the 46-year-old suspect has a long history of violence and firearms offences,” said Vernon RCMP spokesperson Gord Molendyk, who added the arrest of the suspect was completed without incident.
As police officers were keeping surveillance on the suspect’s home on 44th Street, waiting for the search warrant to arrive, a well-known prolific offender showed up at the house and kicked in the front door, with RCMP officers watching the incident take place.
Police report the suspect entered the house, walked out with a duffle bag and left the area in a vehicle driven by another man.
“Our officers went, ‘Holy cow, that was a break-and-enter,’” and followed the car,” said Molendyk.
The vehicle was stopped on 19th Street and the passenger was taken into custody. The driver was allowed to leave after providing some details.
The bag that was removed from the house was checked, and police found it had approximately 700 grams of marijuana.
The search warrant was executed on the house and another half-pound of marijuana and assorted paraphernalia was located in the residence.
“This highlights the dangerous nature of drug dealing. The police witnessed what is described as a drug rip,” said Molendyk.
The 39-year-old prolific offender that was apprehended was also found in breach of his conditional sentence order.
He will be facing a charge of break-and-enter in this matter.
The 46-year-old homeowner is facing a charge of possession of a controlled substance.
