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(UPDATE: Nov. 8 @ 4:45 pm) - The RCMP have released images of one of the suspects and the vehicle allegedly involved in a crime spree across the Southern Interior.
The security footage shows the suspect wearing jeans, a two-tone grey and black jacket and a black baseball hat as he makes enters and leaves a Merritt-area gas station.
It also shows the burgundy Dodge Ram D-150 pickup truck that police continue to search for.
Cpl. Jesse O'Donaghey says a number of tips and possible sightings are being followed up on by police.
"I’d like to remind the general public not to approach the suspect vehicle or any of its occupants if spotted in your community," says O’Donaghey.
"We continue to recommend the public immediately call their local police or 911 if necessary."
The suspect is described as a Caucasian man around 5'6" with a medium build.
He's believed to be in his mid 20s or mid 30s and has brown hair, some facial hair and a chipped right upper tooth.
(Original story: Nov. 7 @ 1:30 pm) - Police are searching for suspects believed to be responsible for a series of crimes across the Southern Interior.
The various incidents all involve a burgundy Dodge Ram D-150 pickup truck.
Cpl. Jesse O’Donaghey said the vehicle was driven by suspects trying to use counterfeit Canadian and US dollars.
It was first seen on Nov. 4 at a gas station along Hwy 1 in Kamloops.
The suspects are alleged to have tried to use counterfeit cash.
It had a BC licence plate (KK2 078) believed to have been stolen from the Armstrong area.
At 8 pm on Nov. 6, officers were called to an alleged fraud at a gas station on Airport Road in Merritt.
When police arrived, the truck – containing “multiple” occupants – was there.
“The suspect allegedly accelerated towards the responding officer, and sideswiped his fully marked police vehicle before fleeing the area eastbound, not pursued by police,” Cpl O’Donaghey said.
At about 10 pm the same night, the truck was involved in a hit and run in the parking lot of a business along Boucherie Road in West Kelowna, police said.
It was heading towards Kelowna when police encountered it.
Officers deployed a spike belt on the eastern side of the bridge.
“The driver performed an evasive maneuver, managed to avoid the tire deflation device and drove over the concrete meridian of the highway,” Cpl O’Donaghey explained.
“A second motorist’s vehicle was struck, as the suspect pulled a U-turn and proceeded back across the bridge span towards West Kelowna.”
Police said that the drivers involved in both collisions were uninjured.
Officers did not pursue the suspect.
Cpl O’Donaghey added: “If you happen to spot the burgundy Dodge Ram D-150 pickup truck in your community, we caution the public not to approach the suspect vehicle or any of its occupants. RCMP strongly urge the public to immediately call their local police of jurisdiction or 911 emergency.”
If you have valuable information about any of these crimes, you can help – and remain completely anonymous – by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
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