Photo: Contributed

A man in a stolen vehicle with a loaded firearm was arrested Tuesday in Osoyoos.

On Nov. 2 around 3 p.m., officers from Kelowna let Penticton RCMP know that the stolen vehicle had been spotted speeding toward the South Okanagan along Highway 97. It had originally been reported stolen from Osoyoos.

Plainclothes officers with the Kelowna RCMP, along with Emergency Response Team, RCMP Air Services and Police Dog Services all assisted Penticton’s Prolific Offender officers with observing the vehicle.

The vehicle stopped at a gas station in the 1000 block of Highway 3A in Twin Lakes, where officers attempted an arrest.

The 32-year old man from Oliver then drove the stolen car into a police vehicle in an attempt to flee.

He was surrounded, and inside the vehicle, officers found two illegal firearms, one of which was fully loaded.

The man was held in custody to appear before the courts the following morning.

Charges being recommended to the BC Prosecution Service include theft of a motor vehicle, possessing a firearm contrary to a prohibition order, assaulting a police officer, multiple firearms offences and possessing property obtained by crime.

“This arrest might not have been made without the collaborative teamwork between all our neighbouring detachments and specialized units”, says Constable James Grandy, media relations for the Penticton RCMP.

“We’re pleased this coordination resulted in an arrest and reducing the risk to the public”.