Update: Attempted carjacking in Penticton leads to manhunt, arrests in Summerland

A quiet Summerland residential neighbourhood became a flurry of police activity on Sunday morning as a police manhunt ensued for two people accused of attempting to carjack a vehicle in Penticton.

Wayne Lock, who lives near Solly Road and Fisher Close Road, said he heard the RCMP helicopter hovering over his home around 8:30 a.m.

“I took a walk down to see what was going on and, sure enough, there seemed to be a car vacated at the end of this block and the police dogs were in the truck and they were searching for, it sounded like a couple of armed robbers,” he said.

Penticton RCMP Sgt. Carmen Penney said a man produced a weapon and attempted to steal a vehicle from a woman who was sitting in her car at a gas station around 7:15 a.m.

The suspects were unsuccessful and attempted to flee the area. The suspect vehicle was located a short time later travelling northbound on Highway 97.

Officers attempted to stop the vehicle by deploying a spike belt before the suspects disappeared.

The pair fled to Summerland and ditched the PT Cruiser they were driving at the end of a road in the bushes before fleeing on foot.

Witnesses report an RCMP helicopter and police dogs were deployed in an attempt to nab the alleged attempted carjackers.

Penney said with the assistance of neighbouring detachments, tips from the general public and air support led to the arrests of a man and woman in their early thirties.

Lock said such alleged criminal activity is uncommon in the area.

“It doesn’t happen much is Summerland so it is pretty amazing to see anything like that here,” he said.

“It’s good to know that we have that kind of protection in the local area so it makes me feel a little more comfortable to know that we have someone looking out for us.”

The officer on scene said the PT Cruiser was also reported stolen. The back windows were visibly smashed.

On June 20, Okanagan Falls elementary school was placed under a “hold and secure” as officers searched for two people accused of carjacking a vehicle in Penticton.

A woman had reported that a man threatened her with pepper spray and stole her vehicle as she attempted to park in a parking lot on Westminster Avenue West.

The suspects ditched the victim’s vehicle in OK Falls and were tracked down by police. Both men were taken into custody. It’s unknown if the two incidents are linked.