Man faces multiple charges after Kelowna bomb threat in January
Posted March 26, 2025 11:48 am.
The Kelowna RCMP says a 61-year-old man is facing almost a dozen charges after a bomb threat closed a bridge in Kelowna earlier this year.
According to police, on Jan. 27, a “distraught” man parked a van across both eastbound lanes of the William R. Bennett Bridge, part of Highway 97, around 3:30 a.m. and started a fire in the vehicle.
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO 1130 NEWSRADIO VANCOUVER LIVE!Insp. Chris Gable explained at the time that officers were able to convince the man to get out of the vehicle, and he was then taken to hospital.
“The man had made some threatening comments to the police, concerning his own well-being, before starting a fire within the vehicle. The Kelowna Fire Department was also on scene and able to immediately extinguish the fire,” Gable said in January.
In an update on the case Wednesday, the suspect was taken into custody on March 25, after he was released from hospital.
The suspect now faces 11 charges, including, but not limited to: arson, possessing explosives, using explosives to cause serious bodily harm, mischief, assaulting a police officer, uttering threats, and possession of a weapon.
“This is a well-coordinated and sizeable investigation, spearheaded by the Kelowna RCMP’s General Investigative Support Team,” said Cpl. Michael Gauthier. “It is imperative that we protect the ongoing judicial process, with that no further details will be released at this time.”
The suspect remains in custody awaiting his next court appearance in April, Mounties say.
