Man slashes tires of moving truck, attacks officer and movers

Police are looking for a man who slashed the tires of the moving van involved in evicting tenants from the notorious 377 Winnipeg St. home on Tuesday.

Penticton RCMP are alleging that a man slashed the tires of the moving truck parked at the ramshackle home and then came at a bylaw officer and movers with a large butcher knife.

Around 2 p.m., while city bylaw officers, along with court-ordered bailiffs, were carrying out their duties in evicting the tenants of 377 Winnipeg St., a man was observed slashing the tires of the moving truck, said RCMP Const. James Grandy in a press release.

When the movers and bylaw officer approached the man, he held up a butcher knife toward the group. He then fled on a green bicycle toward Wade Avenue and Winnipeg Street.

No one was injured as a result of the altercation, said police. A heavy police presence flooded the area, but the suspect was not located, said Grandy.

Two police vehicles did stop a man and woman shortly afterward who were on bikes in the alley between Winnipeg and Martin St. The woman was riding a green bicycle, but the pair was free to go a short time later, the Penticton Herald observed.

The suspect is described as having a dark complexion, shoulder length dark hair, black clothing, and riding a green bicycle.

Anyone with information is encouraged to call the Penticton RCMP at 250-492-4300 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).