Charges stayed against man who tried to flee from police in taxi

A man who unsuccessfully tried to evade police in a taxi earlier this year in Summerland, but was caught and later charged with three weapons offences, has been given a free pass.

Sahand Sobhani was scheduled Wednesday for a preliminary inquiry in provincial court in Penticton to determine if there was enough evidence to send him to trial in B.C. Supreme Court on charges of unauthorized possession of a firearm and possession of a firearm obtained by crime. He was also slated for a separate trial on a charge of possession of a firearm contrary to a court order.

However, all three charges were stayed by Crown counsel John Swanson, who told the court two key witnesses could not be located.

All three charges arose out of an incident June 9 in Summerland.

Police at the time said Sobhani failed to show up May 20 at the Penticton RCMP detachment to serve a weekend jail sentence, which resulted in a warrant for his arrest.

Sobhani was eventually located at a home in Summerland. He tried to flee in a taxi when police arrived, but was unable to get away. Officers allegedly found a handgun in his possession that was among the items reported stolen during a break and enter just a few days earlier.

He remains behind bars and is facing charges in at least four other cases, most alleging frauds throughout the South Okanagan.