RCMP apprehend injured suspect in attempted robbery

Police in Kelowna have arrested and charged a man in connection with an attempted armed robbery that saw the suspect injured and taken to hospital

On Sept. 26, Mounties responded to the 300 block of Highway 33 in Kelowna after a man reported a male suspect was brandishing a gun and attempting to rob him, and that the suspect was still on the scene with a leg injury.

Officers attended the site where they heard the suspect tried to rob the victim, who was sitting in his vehicle, by producing a weapon and demanding the money the suspect had just withdrawn from a nearby bank machine.

The victim reportedly reversed out of the parking spot and unintentionally struck the suspect, resulting in an injury to the man’s leg. The victim then called police and remained on the scene until officers arrived.

Police were able to locate the suspect, who was still at the scene, and identified him as 25- year-old Lenny Lipscombe of Kelowna.

After receiving treatment for a fractured leg at the hospital, Lipscombe appeared in court and was remanded in custody until his next court appearance on Oct. 11.

Lipscome is charged with robbery, use of imitation firearm while committing an indictable offence, and breach of a release order.

He also had outstanding warrants for six other charges including assault with a weapon, assault causing bodily harm, extortion, possessing a firearm for a dangerous purpose, and other imitation firearm offences.

“The victim is safe and the suspect is in custody. We are working closely with the BC Prosecution Service to address not only this incident, but others that are similar to ensure they happen less and less in our communities” Cpl. Michael Gauthier of the Kelowna RCMP’s Media Relations Unit stated.

Anyone with information relating to the case, including CCTV or dashcam video of the incident, is asked to contact the Kelowna RCMP at 250-762-3300.