UPDATE: Police presence in Chase connected to Kamloops robbery investigation

Mar 14, 2019 | 12:52 PM

CHASE, B.C. — UPDATE: Police say a large presence in Chase this afternoon was connected to the robbery of an illegal cannabis dispensary in Kamloops last week.

Kamloops RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Jodi Shelkie says in a news release that RCMP have been advancing the investigation into the robbery of Phyven Medicinal Cannabis Dispensary on March 8.

Chase and Kamloops RCMP worked in collaboration, and police executed a search warrant on a home located on the Adams Lake Indian Band reserve at around noon today (March 14).

 “Violent robberies are taken very seriously and investigators will follow the leads wherever they go. Today, the Kamloops Targeted Enforcement Unit, Crime Reduction Unit and general duty investigators worked closely with Chase Detachment investigators to take this case to it’s next step,” Staff Sgt. Simon Pillay says in the release. “Once again, the Kelowna based Emergency Response Team was used to ensure the safest possible outcome for all parties involved.”

Police have no updates on arrests or charges at this time.

On March 8, Kamloops RCMP responded to an armed robbery at Phyven in downtown Kamloops, and the investigation determined two masked suspects entered the store. One brandished a knife, and the other had a long-barrelled firearm.

No one was physically harmed and no shots were fired, but the suspects fled with cash and cannabis products in a pickup truck but no licence plate was obtained. 

Around 3:00 a.m. the following day, a brown GMC Canyon truck was located near River Street, and it was determined the vehicle was used by the suspect in the robbery. The truck had been previously reported stolen from Chase. 

RCMP are seeking the public’s assistance in this investigation. If you recognize these suspects, saw this pickup truck or have any information about this crime, please contact RCMP Kamloops.

ORIGINAL STORY (12:52 p.m.):

Kamloops RCMP and the Southeast District’s Emergency Response Team are in Chase conducting an investigation.

B.C. RCMP Cpl. Chris Manseau says the officers are conducting an investigation in relation to a Kamloops file.

Chase RCMP Sgt. Barry Kennedy confirmed this, saying officers attended earlier today (March 14).

“Kamloops RCMP along with the Southeast District ERT team came to Chase today to carry on and execute a search warrant in relation to a robbery file in Kamloops,” Kennedy says. “So they searched a rural property on the Adams Lake Indian Band land, and are continuing their search out there at this time.”