Kamloops RCMP are looking for more information and witnesses after a theft and weapons report involving a suspect with a blue mohawk on the North Shore earlier this month.

Mounties say they were called to a store on the 800-block of Fortune Drive around 4:45 p.m. on Sept. 15 after reports that a report of a man in an orange shirt was stealing product. They say when he confronted by staff outside he allegedly took out a can of bear spray and a knife, before fleeing south on Tranquille Road, throwing the knife away as he did.

Cpl. Crystal Evelyn says the call was triaged as Mounties were dealing with “a number of other high-priority events” at the time, noting an officer was at the store within one hour and 15 minutes of the initial call.

“The Kamloops RCMP takes these reports very seriously, especially when a weapon is involved,” Evelyn said.

“Shortly after the report was received, dispatch was advised that the employee had returned to the store and was uninjured. This information reduced the risk to safety and calls for service continued to be triaged for dispatch based on their priority and risk.”

Evelyn is also urging people to not pursue suspects, especially if they are threatening to use a weapon. Instead, she says people should take good notes and photos, if possible, which would help police identify a suspect.

She says Mounties are confident they have identified a suspect, but she’s asking anyone with information to reach out to the RCMP and reference file 2022-32963.