Latest news with #KelownaRCMP
Vancouver Sun
2 days ago
- General
- Vancouver Sun
B.C. RCMP undercover officer posing as postal employee breached rights of accused
A judge has ruled that Kelowna RCMP violated an accused's Charter rights by sending an undercover officer posing as a Canada Post carrier to deliver a package rigged with an alarm and a dye pack during a weapons investigation. Police devised a plan to deliver the package to Thomas Troy Dill after Canadian border officers in Vancouver alerted Mounties in 2022 to a shipment from China containing two silencers, which are illegal in Canada. Minutes after the package was delivered, Dill opened it, triggering the alarm, and waiting police armed with a warrant entered his apartment. He was later arrested and charged with smuggling firearms and drug possession. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Dill's lawyer alleged his Charter rights were breached and a four-day hearing was held in B.C. Supreme Court in Kelowna in April and May to determine whether the evidence was admissible, according to a judgment released on Monday. Justice Edlyn Laurie ruled the delivery of the package constituted an illegal search, even though Dill invited the officer posing as a mail courier into the building. She ruled police overstepped their authority because the general warrant 'did not authorize the controlled delivery of the package by the (undercover agent) to Mr. Dill.' The officer who sought the warrant, identified only as Const. Riley, testified he included that an undercover officer would pose as a postal carrier, but he wasn't aware of details of how that would be done. He said he didn't believe the delivery constituted a search. Dill's lawyer argued it was a search because the undercover officer's purpose in being at the door was to gather evidence, according to Laurie's decision. The Charter protected Dill in his suite but 'the point of contention here … is whether Mr. Dill had a reasonable expectation of privacy in observations made of him and in his interactions with the (undercover officer) at the doorway of the unit. In my view, he did,' wrote Laurie. Dill's privacy interest wasn't 'extinguished simply because he opened the door,' she wrote. 'Courts have found that Section 8 of the Charter protects individuals from unauthorized police surveillance inside residential buildings where it interferes with the person's reasonable expectation of privacy,' she wrote. The prosecutor said the warrant was accompanied by an 'assistance order' that directed Canada Post to provide assistance to the RCMP and that 'implicitly the controlled delivery was judicially authorized,' the decision said. Laurie didn't agree, ruling the assistance order didn't authorize the controlled delivery. Dill's lawyer also argued police had illegally searched Dill's apartment when they entered to retrieve the rigged parcel but also searched the rest of the suite while they were inside. The general warrant had authorized police to replace the contents of the package, install an alarm and a dye pack, and to enter his apartment as soon as the alarm had been activated. The officers had permission to enter the apartment only to retrieve the package and its contents, Dill's lawyer argued, but the prosecution said the warrant didn't specify how the premises were to be searched and the search was therefore 'Charter-compliant.' The judge ruled with the prosecution on that search and on a third Charter breach allegation that Dill's right to counsel was delayed because he wasn't allowed to speak to a lawyer for one hour and 18 minutes after his arrest. Const. Shawn Murphy, who entered Dill's apartment after the alarm was triggered, said he was looking for the package as he went down a hallway toward the bathroom, bedroom and closet, and saw a handgun sticking out from under clothes and a long gun in a duffel bag on the floor. He also saw some Ziploc bags on the bathroom floor and one in the toilet as well as methamphetamine residue on the toilet seat. The existence of those items was then used to apply for a search warrant for drugs and weapons, according to the decision. Murphy testified even though a police emergency response team had checked the apartment, he wasn't certain there weren't animals or booby traps in the suite, and as he moved through the apartment, he was always looking for the package. He said he later saw the empty package in the kitchen and a silencer on a recliner in the living room. The judge accepted the testimony of that timeline in rejecting the defence challenge. Although Murphy was questioned at length about how he could have missed the packaging and the silencer, 'it was never put to him that he had improper motives in searching the unit,' said Laurie. slazaruk@
CTV News
29-05-2025
- General
- CTV News
Report of woman jumping into Kelowna creek triggers search and rescue operation
Members of Central Okanagan Search and Rescue search the Mission Creek on May 28, 2025. (Credit: Facebook/CentralOkanaganSAR) A report of a young woman jumping into a swollen Kelowna creek Wednesday prompted a significant search and rescue effort that has since been stood down, according to crews, who are appealing for more information about the incident. Central Okanagan Search and Rescue, along with Kelowna RCMP and the local fire department deployed to the mouth of Mission Creek around 5 p.m. in response to a 911 call. 'A young, fit female wearing a dark blue shirt and dark shorts was seen near the Casorso and Swamp Road bridge. Witnesses reported that she may have jumped into the creek, though this remains unconfirmed,' a social media post from COSAR said. Ground and air searches were called off Wednesday night after a significant effort failed to locate anyone in the creek, which was 'fast-moving' and 'swollen with spring runoff,' according to COSAR. The search was suspended Thursday. 'We're either waiting for this person to come forward or for someone to report her missing,' said COSAR Manager Duane Tresnich, in a social media update. 'At this point, we need more concrete evidence before we resume operations.' Anyone with information is urged to call Kelowna RCMP at 250-762-3300.
Global News
21-05-2025
- Business
- Global News
Kelowna to study potential switch from RCMP to municipal policing
The City of Kelowna, B.C., is hiring a consultant to review the pros and cons of transitioning from the RCMP to a municipal police force. 'As Kelowna continues to grow rapidly, and with the RCMP policing contract for municipalities set to expire in 2032, this review is a responsible step to ensure we are delivering the best value to taxpayers and planning effectively for the future needs of our city,' said Kelowna Mayor Tom Dyas. The city has allocated $250,000 for a Police Services Model review that will begin this summer. 'Crime and safety remain top priorities for this council,' Dyas said. 'We continue to have full confidence in, and deep respect for, the dedicated members of the RCMP who serve our community.' The city's policing costs have grown substantially in the last decade with the budget more than doubling to $57 million for 2025. Story continues below advertisement Kelowna RCMP would not comment on the study and potential switch to a municipal police force. Kelowna residents Global News spoke to seemed open to at least exploring the idea. 'I know people are concerned about community safety, so I suspect the city wants to do the best it can to figure out the best way to provide that,' said resident Debbie Hubbard. 'I just think hiring a consultant, doing a good analysis is a good idea.' 'I think all ideas are usually worth exploring,' said Nolan Gamble. 'Even if it doesn't go through, hopefully we will find the best solution for us specifically. But yeah, can't hurt looking into it at least.' Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Crime has been at the forefront for many Kelowna residents and business owners for years. While past reports have shown crime increasing in the Central Okanagan city, Kelowna RCMP have recently reported the overall crime rating in 2024 dropped compared to 2023. 1:57 Property crime rate dropping in Kelowna In March, the force presented its annual statistics to city council, which showed property crime went down by two per cent with the crime severity index dropping by seven per cent. Story continues below advertisement According to the RCMP report, the decrease in property crime is attributed to fewer break and enters and bike thefts. Police stated business break-ins were down by 55 per cent in 2024 compared to the year before. However, organizations that represent local businesses reported a bit of a different story. 'The anecdotal reports from members haven't varied much in the past two years,' stated the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce in an email to Global News. The Downtown Kelowna Association (DKA) said that it has seen somewhat of an improvement but added that businesses continue being plagued by vandalism, such as graffiti and smashed windows, shoplifting and break-ins. 'There's been an issue the whole time I have been sitting in this chair,' said DKA executive director Mark Burley, who has been in his role for ten years. 'It's not overly prevalent but it's happening almost daily.' Michael Neill owns Mosaic Books and said crime is so frequent, he has started keeping a log of repeat offenders and the crime incidents. 'It's an ongoing issue,' Neill said. 'We have broken windows that keep being replaced, very expensive. We had a fire at the back in February that cost us a few thousand bucks to straighten out.' Story continues below advertisement If Kelowna did decide to switch to municipal policing, it would follow in the path of the City of Surrey, where the controversial process dragged on for years before it was finalized last year. 'There's benefits and there's going to be also detriments to that happening and that is why a study needs to be done,' Burley said. According to the city, the study should be completed early 2026.
