Air ambulance paramedics prepare to transport a patient from South Okanagan General Hospital. Though unconfirmed, the patient was reportedly shot in Oliver earlier today. Photos by Lyonel Doherty
Emergency response teams (ERT) and the RCMP are scouring the Oliver area today in a heightened search for prolific offender Ronald Teneycke.
Sources say police are looking for a white pickup truck that may have been stolen.
Road checks were established in Oliver and Osoyoos in an attempt to recover the vehicle and its driver.
“We believe him to be in the area. At this time we consider him to be a volatile individual so we have called in ERT to assist with the ground search,” said RCMP media relations Cpl. Dave Tyreman.
It is believed Teneycke has been hiding out in rural Oliver. He is wanted on three outstanding warrants following his failure to attend jail for making or possessing explosives.
Police believe the description of a man who robbed Eastside Grocery at gunpoint last week is similar to Teneycke’s description.
The heightened search began late this morning when an air ambulance helicopter transported a patient from South Okanagan General Hospital to Kelowna.
A credible source told the Chronicle that a man had been shot earlier on Wednesday.
Another source within the hospital said the victim picked up a hitchhiker, and when he realized who it was, told him to get out. The victim subsequently fled the vehicle and was allegedly shot in the lower back with a 22-calibre rifle. The suspect reportedly took the man’s truck.
After the air ambulance transported the victim, ERT set up road checks near Osoyoos and Oliver.
One businessman told the Chronicle that he witnessed ERT personnel with assault rifles and shotguns set up one of the road checks in Oliver.
Stay tuned for more updates.
Police set up road checks today in Oliver in search of prolific offender Ronald Teneycke.
