Prolific offender in custody

Photo: Contributed

A 30-year-old Kelowna man with a long criminal history is in custody after running afoul of the law once again.

Daniel James Mader was arrested last Friday, two days after evading police following a wild scene in Rutland.

According to RCMP, plainclothes members of the Street Enforcement Team observed an older model Chevy pickup on Wednesday, Dec. 4, being driven by a man known to be prohibited from driving.

When the driver pulled into a parking lot at Homer Road and Highway 33 around 1 p.m., police boxed the truck in using two unmarked police vehicles.

The driver allegedly rammed one of the police vehicles, narrowly missing several officers and avoided capture by driving over a curb, through a hedge, through a fence, over a sidewalk and across four lanes of traffic onto Highway 33.

The truck, stolen from Merritt earlier in the day, was found abandoned a short time later.

Police were able to track the suspect over the next two days, cornering him in a parking lot on Dilworth Drive and Leckie Court.

The suspect was arrested safely without incident.

Mader remains in custody charged with Operating a Motor Vehicle While Disqualified, Flight from Police, Dangerous Operation of a Motor Vehicle, Possession of Stolen Property and two counts of mischief.

He is scheduled to appear in court again Dec. 23.

Mader has spent time in jail for various crimes over the past three years including Breach of Undertaking or Probation, Possession of Stolen Property Under $5,000, Flight from Police and Resisting Arrest.

If you have photos or video of the incident, send to [email protected].