UPDATE: Kelowna RCMP involved in two incidents in Rutland area

Mounties in Kelowna were involved in two cases at Rutland area residences that lasted several hours Thursday.

At approximately 9 a.m. on Dec. 29 Kelowna RCMP spotted a white Ford Escape matching a description of a suspicious vehicle in the drive-way of a home in the 1000 block of Cactus Road that was familiar to police.

Two occupants entered the vehicle a short time after and officers followed it to a nearby gas station.

Police turned on their emergency equipment after the Escape had stopped at the pumps, but the vehicle fled on a busy street at high speeds and police did not pursue out of concern for public safety.

Another officer in the area then located a firearm and ammunition, which was believed to have been thrown out the window of the suspect vehicle.

The Escape was later found in the same area of Cactus Road and, after reviewing neighbourhood surveillance footage and following footprints in the snow, officers determined the occupants made their way back to the original address.

The RCMP called in the Emergency Response Team (ERT) and Police Dog Services (PDS), and blocked off the street for several hours.

A search warrant was issued later in the day and seven people were taken into custody from the residence.

While this case was unfolding, Mounties received a second call of an unrelated incident two doors down from the original call on Cactus Road.

This second call involved an individual wanted on outstanding warrants, and police believed firearms were present in the residence.

As ERT were still on the scene, they were dispatched to the second house.

The suspect eventually surrendered to police and three firearms were seized from the property.

“It was an interesting day,” Const. Mike Della-Paolera, media relations officer of the Kelowna RCMP, said.

“Our teams did an incredible job securing the neighbourhood and juggling the two unfolding incidents. It once again showed the cohesiveness of our teams working together to bring this stressful situation to a close.”

Both these cases remain under investigation as of time of publication.