Nakusp RCMP have arrested a man suspected of stealing a truck which was reported missing from Cherryville on Tuesday.
Cpl. Thomas Gill said they were alerted at about 10:45 a.m. that the truck might be in their area after being reported missing around 6:30 the same day. The only information they had was an image of the truck and its license plate.
When police got to the location, they received additional reports from Fauquier residents who spotted the same truck driving erratically. A witness provided a description of the man driving it and directions to a forestry road where the truck was spotted.
Police found the truck parked with a lone occupant in the driver’s seat and walked up to it, surprising him. He was arrested without incident.
Johann Blattnig has been charged with possession of stolen property over $5,000 and failing to comply with a release order. He’s being held for a bail hearing.
“The operation was successful thanks to the active involvement of community members and the diligent work of our officers,” Gill said.
“The cooperation and alertness of our community members played an instrumental role in locating and arresting this individual. This incident is a testament to the effectiveness of our community-police partnership.”