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Vernon  

Swimmer OK, say cops

UPDATE: 7:30 p.m.

Police divers searched for him in Okanagan Lake for three days but, in the end, a public appeal located him.

Vernon RCMP said Monday evening they were pleased to announce that a man, who fled from police on Saturday morning and jumped in the lake, had been located.

Kris Howey of Kamloops was seen by police at approximately 3:12 a.m. Saturday morning in the area of Okanagan Landing Road and Eastside Road in Vernon.

"The Vernon North Okanagan RCMP is pleased to confirm that the 38-year-old man reported missing on Oct. 14, has been located and he is safe and sound," said Cpl. Dan Moskaluk, RCMP spokesperson. "RCMP investigators, suspect that the man managed to swim across Okanagan Lake after being last seen by police entering the water."

Police had issued the appeal only a few hours before announcing Howey had been found.


ORIGINAL: 3:50 p.m.

Vernon RCMP have issued a public plea for information on the whereabouts of a Kamloops man who was last seen fleeing from officers early Saturday morning and jumping into Okanagan Lake. It is not known if the man drowned.

RCMP divers spent three days on the lake, assisted by Vernon Search and Rescue on Saturday, but no body was found.

The missing man, Kris Howey, 38, was seen by police at approximately 3:12 a.m. Saturday morning in the area of Okanagan Avenue and Eastside Road in Vernon.

“The Vernon-North Okanagan RCMP last observed Howey in Okanagan Lake, when he evaded police after they had attended the area for a report of a suspicious male,” said Cpl. Dan Moskaluk, RCMP spokesperson. “Since his disappearance, local SAR technicians and the RCMP Underwater Recovery Team have been on scene searching the waters and surrounding area for signs of Howey.”

Moskaluk added that the search was suspended Monday afternoon.

“Although an officer last observed Howey in the lake, he remains as missing and it is unknown if he exited the lake after being last seen,” said Moskaluk.

Howey is described as a six-foot Caucasian male weighing 200 lbs, with short sandy hair, blue eyes and a full beard.

Anyone who has any information about Howey’s whereabouts is asked to contact Vernon RCMP at 250-545-7171 or Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-8477. 



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