Two Alberta residents were arrested on Sunday, Salmon Arm RCMP say, after a young woman escaped after being assaulted and held against her will.
According to police, the two suspects were arrested after the distressed 18-year-old called 911, reporting that she had escaped confinement. The call came from the 400 block of 4th Avenue Southeast around 2:40 p.m.
RCMP were told the victim had been assaulted, threatened and unlawfully confined by two individuals. Police say the woman sustained non-life-threatening injuries during the ordeal.
“Our officers gathered information and evidence quickly, which ultimately led to the arrest of two prime suspects, who police believe were in the process of fleeing the area in a taxicab,” said RCMP Cpl. Jesse O’Donaghey.
“During the arrest procedure, police officers recovered a 9mm-caliber rifle, and a significant amount of suspected stolen property.”
RCMP say the suspects were a 39-year-old Edmonton man and a 20-year-old Edmonton woman. It’s believed the woman was under house arrest in Alberta.
A court search shows that Scott Bryan Payne and Marley Stone are both in custody.
The two are both facing charges of assault, unlawful confinement or imprisonment and assault with a weapon.
Payne is also facing charges of possessing a weapon for a dangerous purpose and breach of release order.
Stone is also facing charges of willfully resisting a police officer, two counts of breach of release order and one count of breach of probation.
Their next court date is June 24.
Police also said officers are trying to identify the rightful owners of the suspected stolen property.
“Investigators are examining what appears to be a collection of dozens of NHL hockey cards of the same player, estimated to be worth thousands,” said RCMP. “Other recovered property includes a specialized tool set, and hand-held GPS units.”
If you witnessed this incident or might be able to claim some of the stolen property, you are asked to call the Salmon Arm RCMP at 250-832-6044.
Editor’s Note: Police originally said it was a .22 caliber rifle that was located. The story has been updated to reflect that it was in fact a 9mm caliber rifle.