(File photo)

Police have identified a 36-year-old man who now faces 24 charges including two counts of robbery with a firearm related to an alleged carjacking on Eastside Road in September, 2019.

RCMP say on Sept. 19, 2019,  Jesse William Shawcross, 36, flagged down two vehicles along Eastside Road, in Penticton, and threatened to use a firearm. He then stole one of the vehicles. The alleged victims were not physically harmed, police said, and called 911.

 RCMP allege Shawcross was believed to have stolen a truck from Oliver on Sept. 24.

“Officers in Penticton observed the stolen truck near the 1000 block of Eckhardt Avenue West. The Targeted Enforcement Unit (TEU), along with front-line officers, converged into the area. Officers located the truck in a nearby parking lot. Once officers entered into the parking lot, they confirmed the driver to be Shawcross. Shawcross, seeing officers moving in, attempted to evade them by crashing through the parking lot, damaging several parked cars, and ultimately causing the truck to be inoperable. He then fled on foot, with officers giving chase across Eckhardt Avenue, where Shawcross resisted violently as several officers arrested him,” states an RCMP press release.

At the time of his arrest, RCMP were able to charge him with 11 offences, but were not in a position at that time to lay additional charges directly linking him to the robberies. With Shawcross in custody, the General Investigation Section was able to successfully gather further evidence linking him to those crimes, RCMP said.

On Dec. 30, 2019 an additional 13 charges were laid against Shawcross, which include two counts of robbery with a firearm.

“Shawcross has remained in custody following his arrest on Sept. 24. However, necessary evidence linking him to the car-jacking was only recently confirmed. Following a thorough investigation, our General Investigative Section submitted a detailed report to the BC Prosecution Service, recommending these additional charges against Shawcross,” said Const. James Grandy.

Shawcross has been charged with the following:

• Theft of five vehicles

• Flight from police

• Dangerous operation of a motor vehicle

• Resisting arrest

• Assault with a weapon

• Break and enter

• Uttering threats

• Driving while prohibited

• Possessing a controlled substance

• Possession of stolen property

• Failing to comply with a probation order

• Two counts of robbery with a firearm

“Our officers took the safety of our communities into paramount consideration while using all available resources, both investigative and physical, while searching for this accused. Right from the beginning, our members worked tirelessly to try and locate and bring this crime spree to a safe and accountable resolve. These events employed a number of RCMP resources including the RCMP helicopter, Police Dog Services, plainclothes and uniformed officers from several Detachments within the South Okanagan,” said Const. James Grandy