Disgruntled employee assaults, threatens manager

A Vernon man has been charged after allegedly assaulting and threatening the manager of a business in the city’s north end.

Officers of the Vernon North Okanagan RCMP responded to a report of an assault and threats being made at the front entrance of a business on 58th Avenue at approximately 8:10 p.m. Thursday, May 16.

The RCMP stated a contract company hired to complete work inside the business had just terminated an employee, who became upset and assaulted the manager.

“At this point, the employee produced a knife that he stole from a display case inside the business,” Corporal Tania Finn, Media Relations Officer with the Vernon North Okanagan RCMP, stated.

“The employee chased after the manager and was threatening to harm him with the knife.”

The manager escaped the disgruntled employee, who then tried to flee in a taxi that was idling outside. However, the taxi driver refused to drive the suspect away from the scene, so he got out of the vehicle and tried to flee on foot through the building and into the wooded area.

Police pursued the suspect on foot, and after a brief chase the suspect was taken into custody without any further incidents.

The RCMP say no injuries were reported as a result of the arrest.

The suspect, a 27-year-old Vernon man, was charged with assault, assault with a weapon, and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose.