An RCMP cruiser. (Photo via Merritt RCMP)

Kamloops RCMP say a 23-year-old Tumbler Ridge man has a court date today after his arrest near Chase this past Saturday.

Mounties say they were told about a truck that was possibly stolen that was parked near a commercial location on the 1000-block of Hillside Drive around 7 p.m. Saturday, May 27.

The driver fled the scene towards the Chase area, where Mounties say they successfully used a spike belt, causing to driver to head into a residential area, where he abandoned the truck and fled on foot into the river.

A 23-year-old woman from Tumbler Ridge, who was also in the truck, was arrested but then released without charges.

“The male driver allegedly stole a paddle boat to get up the river, where he located and asked an area resident to give him a ride to town, claiming his boat had capsized,” Kamoops RCMP Staff Sgt. Janelle Shoihet, said.

“The resident agreed to drive him, but encountered a patrolling RCMP officer and stopped to speak with him. The officer confirmed the passenger was being sought by police, and the suspect was arrested without incident.”

Shoihet says Kelly Dean Gerk was in court on Sunday to answer to his warrant for breach of release order, as well as new charges of flight from police, possession of stolen property, and two new counts of breach.

He was remanded into custody with his next court appearance scheduled to today, May 30.

If you witnessed the incident, or have video or information about it, Shoihet says to contact the Kamloops RCMP Detachment at 250-828-3000 and reference file 2023-18663.