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Kelowna RCMP are investigating after a series of dramatic incidents took place in Kelowna’s downtown core Friday morning.
Around 8:15 a.m. Friday morning, Kelowna RCMP received a report of an alleged assault in the alleyway of 1200 block of Ellis Street. At the time, police had also received a report of a robbery committed near the intersection of Ellis Street and Cawston Avenue.
The alleged suspect had assaulted a West Kelowna man in the alleyway behind Prospera Place after the man refused to turn over his car keys. The suspect then fled on foot towards Ellis Street.
RCMP said the alleged suspect then stole a child’s backpack being carried by the child’s father. The suspect then allegedly assaulted the father in front of his 8-year-old daughter before fleeing the scene in a grey Ford Sedan.
Witnesses to the assaults reported it to an RCMP officer stationed at the Ellis Street and Queensway bus loop. As the officer left the scene to respond to the call, his police vehicle was broadsided by the alleged suspect’s vehicle as he was attempting to leave the area.
Witnesses told police the suspect exited his vehicle after the crash and proceeded to advance on the police officer through the open driver’s side window of the police vehicle.
“Nearby construction workers were quick to jump into action to assist the police officer still stunned from the impact of the collision,” said Kelowna RCMP Cst. Jesse O’Donaghey.
“They aided the officer in controlling the suspect who was subsequently taken into police custody.”
The suspect sustained minor injuries during the collision. The police officer was transferred to hospital with non-life threatening injuries, but has since been released.
The suspect is a 42-year-old man from Chase B.C. and is currently in police custody. He faces potential charges of assault, robbery, aggravated assault, assault of a police officer and resist lawful arrest.
Kelowna RCMP are continuing to investigate the string of violent incidents that led to the crash.
Anyone who witnessed the crash or the preceding alleged assaults are being asked to contact the Kelowna RCMP at 250-762-3300 or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
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