FIRE DAMAGE | Creighton Valley cabin destroyed by fire Tuesday evening [A14]
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Friday, August 3, 2012
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Shooting suspects identified KATHY MICHAELS Black Press
A 19-year-old woman is recovering from a non-life threatening gunshot wound, while her two cohorts made their first court appearance Thursday, following a police chase that scattered bullets from West Kelowna to Vernon. Although the injured woman has yet to be named, RCMP Cpl. Dan Moskaluk announced late Wednesday evening that it was Shawn Adam Wysynski, 32, and Michael Edward Ellis, 39, they apprehended Tuesday, and both were slated to appear before a Kelowna judge Thursday afternoon. Charges related to allegations from Tuesday’s high profile chase have yet to be levied, but Wysynski will appear in court to deal with a warrant issued in February for failing to comply with a probation order stemming from a Kelowna file. Ellis has been wanted since June, for offences under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act for two charges of possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking, stemming from a Columbia Valley area investigation. Further charges could be laid in the days ahead, but Okanagan Mounties are still investigating the chase that started just after 1:30 p.m. Tuesday on Boucherie Road, and carried on for nearly 70 kilometres to Swan Lake in Vernon. “Much detail will be provided as evidence as this matter progresses,” said Moskaluk. “To ensure the integrity of our findings … we’re limited to what we can disclose.” What he did confirm was that the dramafraught drive started when police attempted to stop a suspicious green Dodge Caravan, around 1:30 p.m. Tuesday. The suspects allegedly fired shots at the West Kelowna RCMP officer, then the suspects fled on Westside Road. As the chase continued, unconfirmed reports indicate the stakes got higher, and police officers found themselves in the path of more bullets. It’s believed Cpl. Richard Gingras from the North Okanagan detachment was most seriously at risk. Once it was clear the van was headed to Vernon, he headed south down Westside Road to cut them off. Instead he found himself being chased. The suspects allegedly shot a number of rounds at Gingras’ cruiser from what was assessed to be a “high-powered rifle.”
VERNON TOYOTA
WADE PATERSON/BLACK PRESS
Police officers examine an unmarked RCMP vehicle that was struck with bullets Tuesday after Mounties attempted to make a routine stop of a green Dodge Caravan. Three suspects were later taken into custody at Swan Lake, north of Vernon.
JENNIFER SMITH/MORNING STAR
RCMP converge on a suspect in a Chevy truck following a chase that started in West Kelowna and ended at the Swan Lake junction in Vernon Tuesday afternoon. Although some bullets made contact, they eventually stopped shooting and settled for trying to run him off the road. He maintained his course, and escaped unscathed, although the alleged suspects continued on in a way that’s yet to be made clear. It’s believed their tires were shot out at one point, and they had to resort to driving on rims. They also ran over two spike belts. Some reports have alleged that they carried on by car-jacking their way through the route to Vernon, although those are also
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unconfirmed. RCMP Const. Kris Clark did confirm they were able to switch vehicles twice, noting that the Caravan was exchanged first for a red pickup truck then a black pickup – he just couldn’t say how the transitions were made. Eventually, however, their driving adventure came to an end and they tried to flee on-foot. Once apprehended, two men were brought to Kelowna lock-up, while the woman went to hospital to deal with injuries that may have been incurred during the chase.
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Police officers who weren’t in the throes of the chase were also at the edge of their seats, listening to the details of a chase that’s unusual fare for this city. “I was down in the operation officers room listening to what transpired on the radio and … any time our members are being shot at, it’s pretty scary stuff,” said Kelowna RCMP Supt. Bill McKinnon. “I was certainly hoping throughout that no one would get hurt.” As is, the only injured party was the unnamed woman who was in the suspect vehicle. While McKinnon said police did exchange fire with the trio, he couldn’t speak to how the woman was hurt. That’s what the New Westminster Police Department were called in to do. “That’s part of our new policies and procedures any time that anyone is hurt by the RCMP,” he said. There were no injuries reported on the RCMP side of the investigation which involved at least 10 cruisers from Kelowna, North Okanagan and West Kelowna detachments. Five officers closest to the action, however, will be removed from duty until a fitness for duty assessment is completed. The rest is being taken over by the Southeast District Major Crimes unit.
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