POLICE – Canine cop helps track down two suspects after stolen-vehicle stop

Police Dog Neeka got a special treat after assisting in the arrest of man who allegedly fled from a stolen vehicle on Friday morning.

Just before 9 a.m. this morning, December 16, a Kamloops RCMP officer was traveling eastbound on the Halston Connector Road when he saw what he believed to be a stolen vehicle.

A second officer located the vehicle and saw it traveling near 12^th Street, where it allegedly drove head on toward the officer’s police car, narrowly missing it.

Frontline and Crime Reduction Units, with support from the RCMP Police Dog Service, continued patrolling and located the vehicle near McDonald Park where two people fled on foot.

A woman, a 31-year-old from Spallumcheen, was arrested after a brief foot pursuit and later found to have four outstanding warrants. She cannot be identified, given these new allegations for which she has not been charged, police said.

“The man, and driver of the vehicle, was located hiding under a trailer in a residence in the 500-block of MacKenzie Avenue by police dog Neeka. He allegedly resisted officers’ attempts to take him into custody and repeated demands to show them his hands,” stated S/Sgt. Janelle Shoihet of the Kamloops RCMP.

Following a brief struggle, the 45-year-old Kamloops man was arrested and taken to hospital for treatment of minor injuries. He, too, was found to be wanted on several driving related warrants.

Queries of the vehicle determined it was stolen out of Kamloops earlier this month.

The woman was expected to appear in court later this afternoon on the unrelated warrants, while the man is expected to be released with a date to appear in court early in 2023 to answer to the allegations and his unrelated warrants.

“Neeka got a treat for her efforts today, and wants to remind those who are thinking about running from her over the holidays, not to, because she will be working,” commented S/Sgt. Shoihet.

If you have information about the incident you are requested to contact the Kamloops RCMP at 250-828-3000, and cite file 2022-44582.