UPDATE:
A road rage incident sparked the arrest of John Michael Aronson of Kelowna on Wednesday, police said Friday afternoon.
Police say Aronson, who was apprehended by several police officers, is facing seven charges, including assault, possession of a prohibited weapon, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, theft of a motor vehicle, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, flight from police and driving while disqualified.
Kelowna RCMP say they responded to a road rage incident on Tuesday, Jan. 22, at 8:16 a.m., with the suspect allegedly using pepper spray. Police say the driver and his passenger locked their doors and rolled up their windows and managed to escape with minor injuries related to pepper spray exposure.
The next day, police say a coordinated effort was planned between plain clothes officers, Kelowna’s street enforcement unit and the RCMP’s Southeast District Emergency Response Team to arrest the suspect.
Aronson has been remanded into custody awaiting his first court appearance.
Police say the investigation is active and ongoing.
ORIGINAL STORY:
Sources have told Global News that the man at the centre of Wednesday’s police takedown at Orchard Park mall is John Michael Aronson.
Several police officers, including some who were well armed and in military gear, were on scene when the afternoon takedown occurred.
It appears Aronson was injured during the incident. Cellphone photos show a man on the ground with blood on him while being arrested.
Later Wednesday, the Independent Investigations Office of B.C. said it was deploying “investigators to an officer-involved-shooting in Kelowna.”
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“The RCMP reported that at approximately 3 p.m. on Jan. 23, 2019, officers attempted to apprehend a male in Kelowna,” said the IIO. “During this interaction, shots were fired by police and the male was transported to the hospital with serious injuries.”
Between 2016 and 2018, Central Okanagan Crime Stoppers issued four wanted posters of Aronson.
The first poster, issued March 8, 2016, said he was wanted for breach of undertaking.
WATCH BELOW: Witness captures Kelowna RCMP action following shooting on Wednesday
The second poster, issued Nov. 1, 2016, said he was wanted for being unlawfully at large and breach of probation.
The third poster, issued Oct. 3, 2017, said he was wanted for break-and-enter, two counts of assault, resisting arrest, flight from police, uttering threats and three weapons offences.
The fourth poster, issued April 3, 2018, said he was wanted for break-and-enter, three assault charges, uttering threats and four firearms offences.
Aronson, 30, is listed as being five-foot-seven and 155 pounds.
On Thursday, police said there was no link between two fatal shootings in Kamloops on Wednesday morning and the takedown in Kelowna later that day.
IIO seeking witnesses
If you witnessed Wednesday’s police takedown at Orchard Park mall in Kelowna, the Independent Investigations Office of B.C. would like to hear from you.
On Friday, the Independent Investigations Office (IIO) said it would like to hear from those who saw the afternoon arrest, which involved several police officers and shots being fired.
“Although the IIO has some civilian witnesses, anybody who saw, heard or may have footage of the incident is asked to contact the IIO witness line even if they have already spoken to police,” said the IIO.
The IIO witness line 1-855-446-8477.
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