MICHAEL ELLIS MAY HAVE SQUANDERED HIS RECENT LUCKY BREAK

(OSOYOOS TIMES — June 20, 2007) —

Michael Ellis doesn't know a lucky break when he trips over one.
About six months ago, the previously convicted truck thief was up on charges yet again that he stole a Ford F-350 “ his favourite model.
But Penticton Provincial Court Justice Mr. Gale Sinclair felt the police identification of Ellis was uncertain enough that he had to find him not guilty, which he did in a January 31 decision.
Ellis was released and, we learn from RCMP information this week, he has now been arrested twice since his lucky break at the end of January.
It seems on May 3 he was allegedly involved in a car accident in Oliver and police feel he did something to cause them to charge him with dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, possession of a controlled substance, breach of probation, and obstructing a police officer.
Then on June 12, Ellis and an associate were stopped while driving a truck in Penticton. Police arrested them, searched the truck, and say they found a loaded handgun, an illegal sawed-off shotgun, a lot of ammunition, cocaine, crystal meth and ecstasy.
Ellis is innocent until proven guilty. However, the law-abiding residents of the South Okanagan will sleep a lot easier if the Crown prosecutor's case is strong and if that case is proven beyond any doubt to the judge this time.
The lucky breaks may be over.

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An amazing event will take place in Osoyoos this Saturday night and Sunday morning.
The annual Relay For Life all-night walkathon to raise money for cancer research will be held at the Desert Park infield, with hundreds of wonderful people giving up their night for this great cause.
Each year this event gets bigger. Last year the Relay in little ol' Osoyoos raised more than $60,000 for the battle against cancer.
As the saying goes “ we all either know someone with cancer, have a family member with it, or have had it ourselves. It is simply a human necessity that we fight this devastating disease.
And the people of Osoyoos fight it with this fun, upbeat and constructive event every June.
We urge everyone to support the Relay for Life.