Penticton K9 units help take down suspect spotted spray painting stolen bikes

Photo: Contributed

Penticton RCMP with a K9 unit arrested a repeat offender spray painting bicycles behind a building Monday.

At 10 a.m. Nov. 30, officers were notified that two men were painting bikes behind a Yorkton Avenue structure. 

The first officer arrived to find a man riding on a mountain bike, recognizable as one that had been recently stolen. When the officer told the man he was being detained, he immediately dropped the bike and fled on foot.

In an effort to locate the suspect, multiple front-line officers attended, along with Police Dog Services. 

After a search, the man was found hiding in thick brush. He tried to run again before police detained him. 

The suspect is 33 years old and remains in custody facing many charges. He was found to have multiple outstanding warrants. 

"This is yet another classic example of a prolific offender creating criminal havoc in our community.  Prolific offenders do not care who they steal from, nor do they care about the emotional and financial toll their criminal behaviour has on the countless victims in our community,” said Supt. Brian Hunter.

“In this case, a bicycle worth $10,000. The Penticton RCMP will continue to target these prolific offenders and work with our justice system in an effort to hold them accountable for their relentless criminal activity.”