Man threatening people with hammer arrested

Police say an arrest of a street-entrenched person in Kelowna shows the challenges their officers have to deal with every day.

Mounties were called to the waterfront walkway on Sunday around 11:30 a.m. where a man was being confrontational with people.

“The man was waving a hammer at people and is accused of causing damage to parked vehicles. The man was also spewing racial vulgarity at many people, including young children with their families,” said Constable Mike Della-Paolera, media relations officer.

Police said the man was known to them, and had been released from custody earlier in the day.

“The man is known to be street-entrenched, with mental health and substance use challenges. The man has resisted community outreach supports and does not appear to be on any housing wait lists,” the officer stated.

Della-Paolera said the man has generated over 22 police files this year, mostly for causing a disturbance and mischief, including violent and other non-violent offences.

“During this most recent file, the man was successfully arrested but while being transported to cells, purposely defecated in the rear seat of the police vehicle,” he said.

“This is an example of the challenges police are dealing with every day. We are continually arresting individuals for repeat criminal offences, but have no legal authorities to hold them in custody, and the complexities of their social and personal lives are such that we are stuck in a cycle of catch and release,” Della-Paolera added.

“Kelowna continues to invest in upstream solutions such as the Community Safety Plan, which pulls together social agencies to address those at most risk for future vulnerability and criminality with an overall objective to increase efficiencies across systems and identify the needs to inform a proactive and preventative response to criminality in our community,” said Supt. Kara Triance. “Our police officers will continue to arrest those committing crimes, forward charges or seek alternatives and we require supports from the governments at all levels to address these social problems.”

The man is facing new charges for causing a disturbance, mischief and uttering threats.