Crime

Ronald Karlson was arrested on the morning of Nov. 23. (Merritt RCMP)

Long list of past offences for man arrested in standoff in Merritt

Ronald Karlson had been banned from city limits

 

(Black Press file photo)

EDITORIAL: Consider factors behind criminal activity

Knowing patterns and statistics can help in quest for solutions

  • Nov 25, 2022

 

The fire was reported just before 6 p.m. Nov. 23. (Contributed)

Emergency crews battle house fire after days of chaos in Merritt

A home went up in flames Wednesday night

 

Two liquor stores hit by armed and masked robber this week. (file photo)

Penticton and OK Falls liquor stores robbed at gunpoint

A man brandishing a handgun and wearing a ski mask robbed Gables and OK Falls Market

Two liquor stores hit by armed and masked robber this week. (file photo)
A B.C. group that represents hunters is upset with Bill C-21. (Pexels photo)

Firearms bill unfairly targets hunters: B.C. Wildlife Federation

Changes will restrict the capacity of the magazines for some long guns

A B.C. group that represents hunters is upset with Bill C-21. (Pexels photo)
Vancouver police have identified another 15 people they believe took part in criminal activity during a riot at Breakout Festival in September 2022. (Image courtesy of VPD)

7 Breakout Festival riot suspects identified, more sought: Vancouver police

Police department released photos of 15 more suspects Nov. 24

Vancouver police have identified another 15 people they believe took part in criminal activity during a riot at Breakout Festival in September 2022. (Image courtesy of VPD)
B.C. Premier David Eby announces a new public safety plan in Vancouver on Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022. Plans by the B.C. government to confiscate suspected proceeds of crime via “unexplained wealth orders” are drawing praise from an expert in financial compliance as a way to make life harder from criminals. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Unexplained wealth orders will make life harder for B.C. criminals: compliance expert

Legislation to allow government more power to seize assets expected to be introduced in the spring

B.C. Premier David Eby announces a new public safety plan in Vancouver on Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022. Plans by the B.C. government to confiscate suspected proceeds of crime via “unexplained wealth orders” are drawing praise from an expert in financial compliance as a way to make life harder from criminals. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim, left, and Vancouver Police Chief Adam Palmer listen as B.C. Premier David Eby announces a new public safety plan in Vancouver on Sunday, November 20, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Vancouver city council approves funding for more police, mental-health nurses

Motion leaves door open for provincial or federal government to contribute

Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim, left, and Vancouver Police Chief Adam Palmer listen as B.C. Premier David Eby announces a new public safety plan in Vancouver on Sunday, November 20, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Vernon RCMP

Police stop 4 impaired drivers within 4 hours in Vernon

Drivers from Kamloops, Salmon Arm and Vernon, between the ages of 20 and 52 under the influence

Vernon RCMP
The Grand Union Hotel SRO at the corner of Abbott and West Hastings streets in Vancouver. Police say they found a teen there Nov. 19 unlawfully entering a room, holding a loaded gun. (Google Streetview)

17-year-old charged, cache of loaded guns and dangerous weapons seized in Vancouver

Teen reportedly caught breaking into rooming house with loaded gun

The Grand Union Hotel SRO at the corner of Abbott and West Hastings streets in Vancouver. Police say they found a teen there Nov. 19 unlawfully entering a room, holding a loaded gun. (Google Streetview)
Tolmie Road on Sumas Prairie in Abbotsford was among the areas hardest hit by the 2021 floods. The second of two men who were charged after trying to steal farm equipment in the area has now been sentenced. (Vikki Hopes/Abbotsford News)

No jail time for man who tried to steal farm equipment from B.C. flood victim

Patrick Schryver one of two men arrested on Sumas Prairie in Abbotsford on Dec. 15, 2021

Tolmie Road on Sumas Prairie in Abbotsford was among the areas hardest hit by the 2021 floods. The second of two men who were charged after trying to steal farm equipment in the area has now been sentenced. (Vikki Hopes/Abbotsford News)
FILE - This photo shows the gurney in the execution chamber at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester, Okla., on Oct. 9, 2014. A scheduled execution in Alabama that was called off Thursday, Nov. 17, 2022, after prison officials could not find a suitable vein to inject the lethal drugs into is the latest in a long history of problems with lethal injections since Texas became the first state to use the execution method in 1982, including delays in finding usable veins. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki, File)

Executions in Alabama Are Paused After Third Botched Lethal Injection

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey sought a pause in…

FILE - This photo shows the gurney in the execution chamber at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester, Okla., on Oct. 9, 2014. A scheduled execution in Alabama that was called off Thursday, Nov. 17, 2022, after prison officials could not find a suitable vein to inject the lethal drugs into is the latest in a long history of problems with lethal injections since Texas became the first state to use the execution method in 1982, including delays in finding usable veins. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki, File)
Police tape is shown in Toronto, Tuesday, May 2, 2017. New Statistics Canada data shows there was an increase in homicides in 2021 and nearly one-quarter of the killings were connected to gangs.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graeme Roy

Last year saw highest rate of gang-related homicides in 16 years: Statistics Canada

British Columbia counted among the provinces with large increases

Police tape is shown in Toronto, Tuesday, May 2, 2017. New Statistics Canada data shows there was an increase in homicides in 2021 and nearly one-quarter of the killings were connected to gangs.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graeme Roy
Firefighters battle a suspicious blaze at Canadian Tire early Saturday, Nov. 19. (Vernon Firefighters Local1517 photo)

Arson suspected in Vernon Canadian Tire fire

RCMP investigating blaze sparked early Saturday morning

Firefighters battle a suspicious blaze at Canadian Tire early Saturday, Nov. 19. (Vernon Firefighters Local1517 photo)
Police were staged at a home in the 2600 block of Granite Avenue in Merritt on the evening of Nov. 20. (Contributed)

Another police standoff as havoc continues in Merritt

Police presence continues downtown in latest search warrant

Police were staged at a home in the 2600 block of Granite Avenue in Merritt on the evening of Nov. 20. (Contributed)
A burnt-out truck was found near the Highway 5A ramp off of Highway 5 in Merritt after an early-morning shooting on Nov. 18. (RCMP/Submitted)

UPDATE: Heavy police presence in Merritt after shots fired

Shooting is thought to be related to spree on Nov. 15

A burnt-out truck was found near the Highway 5A ramp off of Highway 5 in Merritt after an early-morning shooting on Nov. 18. (RCMP/Submitted)
Cars make their way among the elk at Omega animal park in Montebello, Que., on Wednesday, July 13, 2016. Two Quebec men will appear in a Gatineau, Que., court today after they were charged for allegedly breaking into the park and killing three wild boars and an elk. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

2 Quebec men in court today for allegedly killing animals at safari park

Police found four animal carcasses inside a vehicle after a guard reported a break-in

Cars make their way among the elk at Omega animal park in Montebello, Que., on Wednesday, July 13, 2016. Two Quebec men will appear in a Gatineau, Que., court today after they were charged for allegedly breaking into the park and killing three wild boars and an elk. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Trail RCMP

B.C. hockey arena employee arrested after phone found in girls change room

The 21-year-old from Trail has been released from police custody on a number of conditions

Trail RCMP
FILE - In this Aug. 3, 2007, file photo, psilocybin mushrooms are seen in a grow room at the Procare farm in Hazerswoude, central Netherlands. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong, File)

9 firearms, 8 garbage bags of magic mushrooms seized on rural property in Greenwood

Three people were arrested as charges considered by BC Prosecution Service

FILE - In this Aug. 3, 2007, file photo, psilocybin mushrooms are seen in a grow room at the Procare farm in Hazerswoude, central Netherlands. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong, File)
The body of Metchosin man Martin Payne was discovered July 12, 2019. Two escaped inmates from William Head Institution have been charged with his murder. (Martin Payne/Facebook)

Trial gets underway for B.C. prison escapees accused of murdering Metchosin man

Zachary Armitage and James Lee Busch are charged with killing 60-year-old Martin Payne

The body of Metchosin man Martin Payne was discovered July 12, 2019. Two escaped inmates from William Head Institution have been charged with his murder. (Martin Payne/Facebook)
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