Two traffic stops by the Kelowna RCMP Monday morning netted the police four firearms.
According to the Mounties, shortly before 1:30 a.m. April 11, an officer stopped a silver Volkswagen Jetta seen driving erratically on Highway 97 near McCurdy Road. The car was being driven with its lights off.
The driver was found to be prohibited from driving a motor vehicle.
“The officer arrested the driver and subsequently located marijuana allegedly in the driver’s possession. A further search of the vehicle yielded more illegal drugs, including crystal meth,” said Const. Jesse O’Donaghey.
”More concerning to the (officer) was the discovery of three firearms, one loaded, located inside the vehicle."
O’Donaghey said a rifle and two revolvers as well as live ammunition were seized.
The driver, a 43-year-old West Kelowna man, faces potential charges of possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking, driving while prohibited and several firearms-related charges.
He was released and is expected to appear in court June 30.
A short time later another RCMP officer, also on patrol, stopped a red Pontiac Grand Am seen speeding west on Enterprise Way.
The vehicle stopped abruptly in the rear parking lot of a hotel located in the 2100-block of Harvey Avenue.
As the officer was pulling up to the vehicle, he saw a man get out of the the passenger side of the Grand Am and throw an item onto the roof of a small enclosure.
“Investigators quickly determined that the discarded object was, in fact, a revolver pistol, which was seized by police,” said O’Donaghey.
A man, identified as 41-year-old Yeorgios Sintihakis of Kelowna, was taken into custody by police and later released on bail after appearing in court. He faces potential charges of possession of a firearm, careless use of a firearm, possession of a firearm without a licence, and possession of a firearm knowing it’s not registered. He is expected to re-appear in court at a later date.
The driver of the Grand Am, a 49-year old woman from North Westside, was issued a 24-hour driving prohibition for operating a motor vehicle while her ability was affected by drugs.