Latest news with #KelownaRCMP
Global News
10-07-2025
- Global News
‘I told her she was loved': Witness recounts horrific attack that killed Kelowna mother
A Kelowna, B.C., man, who was one of the first on the scene of a brutal attack that left a mother of two dead, says he wishes he could have done more to save her. 'I just wanted to get there and try to stop whatever was happening but I don't think I was quick enough obviously,' Christopher Anderson told Global News. Anderson said he and his girlfriend were driving along Enterprise Way early Friday afternoon when they saw a man wielding what Anderson said appeared to be a hammer and chasing a woman who was screaming and running away. That woman was 32-year-old Bailey McCourt. Anderson said he slammed on the brakes but by the time he got out of his vehicle, the attacker was on top of McCourt. Story continues below advertisement 'He was putting his body weight on her, hand above his head, coming down with force,' Anderson said. 'I ran up to them. I was yelling at him to get off of her. He got up pretty quickly.' Anderson said the man sped away and he and another witness then turned their attention back to McCourt, who Anderson said was left with significant injuries. 'She was responsive in the fact she was squeezing my hand when I asked if she could hear me,' Anderson said. 'I just tried to say as much as I could to her to let he know she was safe now…I told her that help was on the way. I told her that she was loved.' Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy McCourt was rushed to hospital where she later died. 2:12 Family outraged after woman dies in Kelowna violent assault Her ex-husband, James Plover, is charged with second-degree murder and is scheduled to make a court appearance on Friday. Story continues below advertisement Just hours prior to the attack, Plover was convicted of four charges related to domestic violence. According to court documents, conditions of his release included staying a certain distance from the complainant. 3:14 Women fleeing domestic abuse struggle to find adequate housing Friday's attack has highlighted significant gaps in the system to protect victims from intimate partner violence. Kelowna RCMP said due to significant community concerns in the wake of the tragedy, they are holding an outreach event in the parking lot of Parkinson Rec Centre Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The public is invited to come out and connect with police to voice concerns and ask questions. 'We understand that this event has caused significant concerns to the community and people may have questions about their safety and the incidents that they either witnessed or were involved in,' said media relations officer Cpl. Allison Konsmo. Story continues below advertisement 'This is a time for residents, community members and the public to come together, voice their concerns, ask questions and connect with resources.' As for Anderson, he hopes his actions along, with those of the other witness, provide some comfort to McCourt's grieving family 'To find out that we were there for what were her last moments,' said Anderson. 'I'm glad to at least know that she felt safe and that her attacker wasn't the last person that she saw.'
Global News
08-07-2025
- Global News
Kelowna mother's death at hands of ex-husband shows need for judicial changes: family
Bailey McCourt was only 32 years old and a mother to two young children when her life was brutally cut short, allegedly at the hands of her former husband. 'This is very horrific and a senseless act,' McCourt's uncle, Morey Maslak told Global News. ' It's is all very raw. We are trying to make sense of this.' Kelowna RCMP were called to a parking lot at the corner of Spall Road and Enterprise Way at 12:45 p.m. Friday in response to what they called a hit-and-run and assault. It was quickly determined that two women were viciously attacked. Police said a weapon was used but would not specify what type. Both women were rushed to hospital, where McCourt died. Police arrested a suspect off of Glenmore Road not long after the assault and charged James Plover, McCourt's estranged husband, with second-degree murder after McCourt succumbed to her injuries. Story continues below advertisement McCourt's family is now left not only feeling immense sadness and pain, but anger on top of it as the accused had a history of domestic violence. 'We want to understand how we ended up in this position,' said Maslak. 'How many times is this story going to be played before we can affect some change. There's something wrong in this society that we are having to have these discussions over and over again.' According to court documents, Plover was charged with assault by choking and uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm in June, 2024. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy The case was classified as a 'K file', which indicates intimate partner violence. In August, 2024, McCourt posted on her social media, 'To anyone receiving messages from James about me and my family please screenshot these messages and send to me. He is clearly unstable and this is not okay. I am scared for my family's safety and need your help by getting these messages to my lawyer and crown counsel.' 'That's what's really frustrating is that the system is very aware, the criminal legal system, the family law system are aware that of the warning signs of potential lethal violence,' said Angela Marie MacDougall, executive director of the Battered Women's Support Services. 'And this case was screaming of that, like just screaming, 'Lethal violence is imminent.'' Story continues below advertisement 1:49 Increase in domestic violence concerns On Friday, just hours before the deadly attack, a judge convicted Plover of three counts of uttering threats and one count of assault by strangling. Plover's sentencing hearing was scheduled for September of this year. Calling the incident horrific, B.C.'s premier said the tragedy highlights the urgent need for judicial changes. 'We've been pressing the federal government aggressively to improve our bail system, to make sure that violent offenders are kept behind bars,' David Eby said on Monday. 'Tragic timely reminder of the importance of that work and we hope the federal government works very quickly to get that in place.' A GoFundMe has now been launched to raise funds for the heartbroken family mourning a woman described as a bright light. Story continues below advertisement 'Funny, fun-loving, easygoing, she was a devoted mother,' Maslak said. 'She loved her kids more than anything.'
CTV News
07-07-2025
- Climate
- CTV News
Flights suspended, airspace closed as out-of-control wildfire burns in Kelowna, B.C.
Officials at Kelowna International Airport have closed the airport's surrounding airspace as an active wildfire continues to burn in the region. On Sunday afternoon YLW posted an update to its website advising travellers that the BC Wildfire Service had initiated the closure, suspending all arrivals and departures, due to a blaze burning on a hillside in the east Kelowna neighbourhood of Ellison. 'We will continue to monitor the situation closely and provide updates as they become available,' the statement said. According to an update issued by the BC Wildfire Service shortly after 5 p.m. Sunday, the fire had expanded to cover two hectares and was regarded as being out of control. An out-of-control wildfire is regarded as being a blaze that is spreading, or it is anticipated to spread, beyond the current perimeter or control line. Residents who live close by are being advised to prepare for a possible evacuation as the fire, suspected to be human-caused, continues to burn north. According to a release by the Kelowna RCMP, officers are conducting 'tactical evacuations' of homes in the area of Rockrace Road, Upper Booth Road and Dead Pine Road. Mounties say the blaze is burning uphill toward Postill Lake, northeast of Kelowna, and is heading towards several other nearby lakes that have cabins and campsites. Police are advising the public in those areas above Ellison to leave as a precaution. 'Kelowna RCMP and emergency service partners cannot stress enough the importance of staying out of the area,' police said Sunday afternoon. 'Emergency services will not allow members of the general public into the evacuation zone. Please stay away for your safety and the safety of responders.' With files from the Canadian Press.
Global News
03-07-2025
- Global News
Okanagan woman, 33, identified as victim of fatal Kelowna pedestrian crash
Lynn Townsend was planning for her daughter to move back home. Now, she's planning her funeral. 'I imagine at her service on Saturday is when we'll notice that she's actually gone,' said Townsend. Her 33-year-old daughter, Brittany Fraser, was struck and killed on June 21st while trying to cross the street at the intersection of Highway 97 and Burtch Road in Kelowna. 'A police officer showed up on the doorstep, and that's when we found out my daughter — our daughter — was gone,' Townsend said. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Kelowna RCMP say the collision involved two vehicles. Impairment was not a factor, but speed was, according to investigators. The crash remains under investigation. 'Because of somebody's negligence, that was taken away from me,' Townsend said. 'She could have had another 60 years of life. But because somebody was in too big of a hurry and didn't pay attention, they took that away.' Story continues below advertisement Fraser was just one week away from moving back to Cranbrook to live with her family. 'My mom was just ecstatic about having her back,' said Townsend. 'She was actually going to be living with my mom because my mom's alone and she's 83 years old.' A GoFundMe has been created to help cover funeral costs. Townsend says the expenses could reach close to $9,000. Part of the funds will also support the family who took in Brittany's cat, Goliath. A small memorial now marks the spot where Brittany lost her life — a painful reminder for all who pass by. 'Slow down and don't be in such a big hurry,' Townsend pleads. 'There's nothing that can't wait an extra minute or two.'
Vancouver Sun
04-06-2025
- General
- Vancouver Sun
B.C. RCMP undercover officer posing as postal employee breached rights of accused
A judge has ruled that Kelowna RCMP violated an accused's Charter rights by sending an undercover officer posing as a Canada Post carrier to deliver a package rigged with an alarm and a dye pack during a weapons investigation. Police devised a plan to deliver the package to Thomas Troy Dill after Canadian border officers in Vancouver alerted Mounties in 2022 to a shipment from China containing two silencers, which are illegal in Canada. Minutes after the package was delivered, Dill opened it, triggering the alarm, and waiting police armed with a warrant entered his apartment. He was later arrested and charged with smuggling firearms and drug possession. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Dill's lawyer alleged his Charter rights were breached and a four-day hearing was held in B.C. Supreme Court in Kelowna in April and May to determine whether the evidence was admissible, according to a judgment released on Monday. Justice Edlyn Laurie ruled the delivery of the package constituted an illegal search, even though Dill invited the officer posing as a mail courier into the building. She ruled police overstepped their authority because the general warrant 'did not authorize the controlled delivery of the package by the (undercover agent) to Mr. Dill.' The officer who sought the warrant, identified only as Const. Riley, testified he included that an undercover officer would pose as a postal carrier, but he wasn't aware of details of how that would be done. He said he didn't believe the delivery constituted a search. Dill's lawyer argued it was a search because the undercover officer's purpose in being at the door was to gather evidence, according to Laurie's decision. The Charter protected Dill in his suite but 'the point of contention here … is whether Mr. Dill had a reasonable expectation of privacy in observations made of him and in his interactions with the (undercover officer) at the doorway of the unit. In my view, he did,' wrote Laurie. Dill's privacy interest wasn't 'extinguished simply because he opened the door,' she wrote. 'Courts have found that Section 8 of the Charter protects individuals from unauthorized police surveillance inside residential buildings where it interferes with the person's reasonable expectation of privacy,' she wrote. The prosecutor said the warrant was accompanied by an 'assistance order' that directed Canada Post to provide assistance to the RCMP and that 'implicitly the controlled delivery was judicially authorized,' the decision said. Laurie didn't agree, ruling the assistance order didn't authorize the controlled delivery. Dill's lawyer also argued police had illegally searched Dill's apartment when they entered to retrieve the rigged parcel but also searched the rest of the suite while they were inside. The general warrant had authorized police to replace the contents of the package, install an alarm and a dye pack, and to enter his apartment as soon as the alarm had been activated. The officers had permission to enter the apartment only to retrieve the package and its contents, Dill's lawyer argued, but the prosecution said the warrant didn't specify how the premises were to be searched and the search was therefore 'Charter-compliant.' The judge ruled with the prosecution on that search and on a third Charter breach allegation that Dill's right to counsel was delayed because he wasn't allowed to speak to a lawyer for one hour and 18 minutes after his arrest. Const. Shawn Murphy, who entered Dill's apartment after the alarm was triggered, said he was looking for the package as he went down a hallway toward the bathroom, bedroom and closet, and saw a handgun sticking out from under clothes and a long gun in a duffel bag on the floor. He also saw some Ziploc bags on the bathroom floor and one in the toilet as well as methamphetamine residue on the toilet seat. The existence of those items was then used to apply for a search warrant for drugs and weapons, according to the decision. Murphy testified even though a police emergency response team had checked the apartment, he wasn't certain there weren't animals or booby traps in the suite, and as he moved through the apartment, he was always looking for the package. He said he later saw the empty package in the kitchen and a silencer on a recliner in the living room. The judge accepted the testimony of that timeline in rejecting the defence challenge. Although Murphy was questioned at length about how he could have missed the packaging and the silencer, 'it was never put to him that he had improper motives in searching the unit,' said Laurie. slazaruk@
