UPDATE: Police take one man into custody to end search in the Mabel Lake area near Enderby
UPDATE 3 p.m.
The police manhunt in the Mabel Lake area east of Enderby Tuesday morning was related to suspects in an armed robbery at a cannabis growing facility in Sicamous.
“On April 7 shortly before 4 a.m., RCMP responded to a report of an armed robbery at a licenced medical marijuana grow operation in the Sicamous area. A representative of the growing facility attended the location after receiving a notification of an alarm at the premises,” said an RCMP news release.
“Once on scene the property representative encountered suspects armed with firearms. A shot was allegedly fired towards the property representative during an ensuing confrontation. The victim was uninjured during the incident.”
The suspects fled the scene in Sicamous and their vehicle was later found abandoned in the Enderby area.
One man was arrested after the Emergency Response Team was brought into the Kingfisher area.
The investigation into the violent break in continues, and police have not said if there actually was two suspects, and if so, what happened to the second person.
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UPDATE 11:35 a.m.
One man was taken into custody after a police search in the Kingfisher-Mabel Lake area east of Enderby.
“Front line officers will remain on scene to conduct further investigation. Police believe there is no further risk to the public stemming from this incident,” said Cpl. Tania Finn of the Vernon North Okanagan RCMP.
Members of the Emergency Response Team and regular officers had been hunting for two suspects, believed to be armed, connected to an unspecified crime this morning in a neighboring community.
During the search residents were advised to ensure their doors were locked.
Police have not said what became of the second suspect, but further details are expected later.
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Residents in the Mabel Lake area east of Enderby, are being advised to make sure their doors are locked as a police search for two suspects continues.
Members of the Southeast District Emergency Response Team are assisting the Vernon North Okanagan RCMP in the search connected to a crime committed earlier this morning.
“On April 7 at approximately 4 a.m., the frontline officers from the Vernon North Okanagan RCMP were alerted to a crime carried out in a neighbouring jurisdiction,” Cpl. Tania Finn said. “A suspect vehicle description was provided to all frontline officers who immediately commenced patrols. An officer spotted the vehicle heading eastbound on Mabel Lake Road in Enderby and patrols located the vehicle abandoned near Mabel Lake. Frontline officers quickly established a perimeter in the large rural area of Kingfisher.”
Finn tells Vernon Matters the search is focused on the Mabel Lake area of Kingfisher.
“There is the marina, golf course, and campground. There are some summer properties, but people do live out there year round,” she said.
One witness told Vernon Matters the armed suspects rolled their van on Walker Road, and there is a large police presence in the area.
RCMP say with incidents like this, officers want to ensure the safety of everyone involved.
“Given the large geographical area and high risk situation potentially involving firearms, the Southeast District Emergency Response Team has been brought in to assist with the search,” Insp. Kevin Keane, Vernon North Okanagan Operations Officer, said.
“Police are requesting citizens keep clear of the area while the search is underway and local residents ensure doors are locked. Report any suspicious activity in the area to the police immediately. The Vernon North Okanagan RCMP will provide further updates once they become available,” Keane said.
Details about the crime committed earlier, where it was, and suspect descriptions have not been released by police.
One woman texted Vernon Matters around 8 a.m. to say: “A friend of mine lives out there and they were told to stay inside with doors locked. Cops looking for couple of armed men. SWAT trucks and cops went past my place (on Hullcar Road Armstrong) a few minutes ago.”