Charges dropped in south Okanagan stolen goods, drugs investigation

PENTICTON – A man charged after police found a large amount of stolen items in a Summerland motel room is off the hook.

The Crown has stayed all charges against Brooks Vandenbroek.

He was arrested in February after Penticton RCMP found a man smoking illegal drugs in the casino parking lot.

“We discovered that he had a number of credit cards that didn’t belong to him and keys that appear to be mailbox keys and residential keys,” said Sgt. Rick Dellebuur.

He added a subsequent search of Vandenbroek’s room at the Summerland Motel turned up a numerous stolen goods such as mail, credit cards, jewellery, business equipment and computers.

Drugs and drug paraphernalia were also seized.

Vandenbroek, 37, was charged with nine offenses including possessing or using stolen credit cards and possessing property obtained by crime.

All of the charges have now been dropped although they can be revived within one year if further evidence warrants it.

Dellebuur says RCMP are continuing to develop the case.

And Criminal Justice Branch spokesperson Neil MacKenzie says “Crown anticipates reviewing additional information from police as a result of further investigation. I’m not currently able to release any additional information about the Crown’s decision, given continued police investigation.”