Found the body in the ground of the OKIB
Photo: Archive photo
The Southeast District Major Crimes Unit has been called in to assist the Vernon RCMP in a homicide investigation after the body of a man was found at 6 Mile Creek Road in the land of the Indian Band of Okanagan.
The Vernon / North Okanagan RCMP was contacted on Sunday, May 29, at 6:30 p.m., after witnesses discovered the body after an altercation with a stranger who was recklessly driving around the area.
It turned out the vehicle was stolen and was located on Monday at a Vernon business. While recovering the vehicle, a man linked to it was arrested. He remains in custody and investigators are trying to determine his relationship with the case.
Forensic investigators will be in the 6 Mile Creek Road area talking to witnesses and looking for videos that can shed more light on what happened.
“While this investigation is still in its infancy, officers report that there are no known threats to public safety,” said Inspector Brent Novakoski, a senior investigating officer in the southeastern district of the BCCR’s Major Crimes Section. “Investigators are asking residents of 6 Mile Creek Highway to examine their property to find anything that is missing or out of place.”
The RCMP notes that no members of the Okanagan Indian gang are currently believed to be involved in the incident.
The BC Coroners Service is conducting its own investigation into the death. The identity of the victim has not been confirmed and will not be released pending an autopsy.
If you have information to give researchers, video camera board in the area, or have video surveillance from May 29, 2022, call the SED MCU information line at 1-877-987-8477.