Motorcycle seized in dangerous driving events

Police in West Kelowna say they have taken a dangerous motorcycle driver off the road after an investigation that lasted almost a month.

RCMP say two motorcycles were seen travelling at a high rate of speed and weaving through traffic on Highway 97 at Ellis Street on the afternoon of February 9.

Officers tailed the bikes from a safe distance, witnessed them make a U-turn and travel back at a high rate of speed, again weaving in and out of traffic.

Mounties activated their emergency equipment and tried to stop the riders, but they fled from police.

On Feb. 15, officers received a complaint about a blue motorcycle that matched a description of one of the bikes from the previous incident also driving dangerously on Highway 97.

Officers attended the scene but did not locate the rider.

Finally, on March 2, Mounties received reports of the blue Yamaha motorcycle driving dangerously on the highway.

The RCMP say an “extensive investigation” was undertaken which led to the sighting of the blue Yamaha in an open garage on McIver Road.

Two men were outside when officers approached, one of whom was identified as the rider from the previous incidents and was subsequently arrested for dangerous driving.

The motorcycle was also seized.

“This was an outstanding job of police work with a collaborative effort,” Sgt. Mark Booth with the Kelowna RCMP’s Traffic Services department, said.

“The West Kelowna CRU team and BCHP-Kelowna members conducted an excellent investigation tracking down the rider of this motorcycle and taking it off the streets. I truly believe we saved this rider from inevitably sustaining serious/life altering injuries and prevented an innocent driver from enduring a traumatic event.”

Charges against the man are pending as the investigation is being forwarded to the Crown.