225625
225768
Kamloops  

Social media taunting leads Alberta man back to Kamloops to face charges

An Edmonton man appeared in Kamloops court today to face charges for three separate incidents from 2015, a fate that could have perhaps been avoided had he not taunted local police over Facebook.

Jessie Dean Kowalchuk had his photo released in December 2018 as part of CFJC's weekly ‘Most Wanted’ segment. Kowalchuk apparently sent the local news station a message over Facebook telling them he no longer lived in town.

"The tone of his message was derogatory stating that the RCMP 'had missed the ball because he had been living in Edmonton, Alta. for three years," says a release from Kamloops RCMP.

Kamloops RCMP took that info to the British Columbia Prosecution Service and Kowalchuk's three outstanding warrants were extended to Alberta.

On May 10, Kowalchuk was checked by the Edmonton Police Department who found that he had outstanding warrants from B.C. Kowalchuk was remanded and transported back to Kamloops to face these charges.

“We are very pleased that Jessie Kowalchuk sent the message advising that he was living in Alberta,” says Cpl. Jodi Shelkie in the release. “It’s important that people who are wanted realize they can’t relocate to avoid their legal issues. Sooner or later, the police will find them. In this case, the suspect aided us by giving his current location.”



More Kamloops News

229439