Hit and run vehicle caught by police

The driver and occupants of a vehicle were arrested after making a dangerous attempt to flee from police in downtown Vernon yesterday.

On Wednesday, July 12th, 2023, around 5:30 p.m., a frontline officer from the Vernon North Okanagan RCMP located a suspected crime vehicle driving in an East Hill neighbourhood near the 1500-block of 37th Ave. The vehicle, a white Volkswagen Tiguan, was allegedly involved in several incidents recently reported to police, including a hit and run collision near Tronson Road earlier that day. As additional officers began to mobilize to the area, a frontline officer found the vehicle near the intersection of 25th Ave and 32nd St. The officer activated their emergency lights and pulled in front of the suspect vehicle that was stopped in traffic. The driver of the vehicle reversed, then drove ahead, hitting the front corner of the police vehicle before it fled south on Highway 97.  Additional responding officers in the area quickly tracked down and contained the damaged vehicle on Highway 97 near the Army Cadet Camp.  All three occupants were safely arrested and taken into custody without incident.

This was a dynamic situation that unfolded very quickly, states Constable Chris Terleski, Media Relations Officer for the Vernon North Okanagan RCMP. Our frontline officers did a very good job ensuring it did not escalate preventing any further risk to the public.

Two of the three occupants, all from the Lower Mainland, were later released from custody.  The driver, a 28-year old Surrey man, remains in police custody and is expected to appear in court later today.