On September 28,  at approximately 11:30 pm, Kelowna RCMP responded to a report of suspicious circumstances in the 400-block of Sands Court. 

Frontline officers attended and learned that the individual, who is not a resident of Kelowna, alleged they had been kidnapped in the Lower Mainland and held against their will at a nearby residence. The victim is believed to have been transported to Kelowna by those involved before escaping and seeking assistance to contact police. The victim was assessed and treated by BC Emergency Health Services for non-life-threatening injuries.

The Kelowna RCMP Serious Crime Unit has assumed conduct of the ongoing investigation and is working with policing agencies in the Lower Mainland to corroborate information and gather additional evidence. Investigators believe this was a targeted incident in which the victim, who is not believed to be involved in criminal activity, was allegedly being used to exert pressure on an associate.

On September 29, Kelowna RCMP executed a search warrant at a residence on Sands Court. To ensure the safety of residents and officers involved in the investigation, members of the Southeast District Emergency Response Team assisted with the warrant execution. One man was taken into custody and later released pending further investigation.

"This investigation remains in its early stages and investigators continue to work to establish the full circumstances surrounding the victim's allegations," says Staff Sergeant Tim Russell of Kelowna RCMP  Investigative Services. "We are asking anyone who may have seen the vehicle described in this release, or who has dash camera or surveillance footage, to contact police."

Investigators do not believe there is an ongoing risk to the public. Members of the Kelowna RCMP Serious Crime Unit continue to canvass for evidence and are seeking information regarding the movements of a newer-model white Dodge Ram Rebel pickup truck between 2:00 am and midnight on September 28.