Overdue Cadillac leads to drug bust

You might think if you were driving a rental car that was nine days overdue and never even tried to contact the company, they would wonder where you are.

And knowing that you might draw attention, it might not be a good idea to carry around a cache of illegal drugs with you.

However, there is a least one person in the Okanagan who couldn't make that connection.

On Thursday, October 13, the manager of the Budget-Rent-a-Car in Vernon reported that a 2011 Cadillac had not been returned after the rental contract had expired.

The car was rented to a person with a Salmon Arm address and the return date of the vehicle was to have been October 4.

Photo: Contributed - File photo

With the help of “On star", the vehicle was located near 35th Street and Centennial Drive in Vernon.

Vernon RCMP arrived to find a dog in the vehicle.  While waiting for the manager of Budget-rent-a-car to identify the vehicle,  the officer noticed a man approaching.

The man was initially arrested for theft of a motor vehicle, but a check of his belongings found more.

While searching the suspect's carry all for the keys to the vehicle, police discovered over 70 grams of crack cocaine, some powder cocaine, as well as heroin and 11 oxycodone pills.

The keys to the vehicle were also found, along with a large knife, four cell phones and a quantity of cash.

The 27-year-old suspect has already made his first appearance before a judge, but was subsequently released to appear in court again onOctober 20, to face charges.