KELOWNA – It was not a quiet Sunday night for Kelowna RCMP.
At about 7:00 p.m., officers responded to a mugging on Baron road where a young woman was punched in the head from behind and then had her purse stolen after she stepped off a transit bus.
“The victim, an 18-year-old Kelowna woman, had pleaded with the suspect saying ‘please’ at which point the suspect threatened further violence,” says Cst.Jesse O’Donaghey. “She released her purse and he fled on foot with the purse towards the mall.”
A few hours later, police were called to a Harvey Avenue motel after the night clerk received a phone call reporting a bomb in the building. Guests in about 30 rooms were temporarily evacuated.
“We brought in two police service dogs who are both trained in the detection of explosive materials and devices. They conducted a thorough search of the motel and nothing of interest was found inside,” says O’Donaghey.
Then at about 4:00 a.m., a 36-year-old Peachland woman was walking along Pandosy Avenue near downtown Kelowna when she was approached by a man who wasn’t wearing pants.
“Police have learned that a man had walked up to a woman and touched himself inappropriately and invited the woman to touch him as well,” says O’Donaghey. “The woman was obviously disturbed by this invitation.”
Shortly afterwards and not far away, officers arrested a 32-year-old man who will appear in court in April on charges.
The man may also be responsible for an indecent exposure incident a week ago.