UPDATE: Although the man has not been located, police have received information indicating that he has made his way out of the bush and in good physical condition. Although the search and rescue mission has been concluded, the investigation continues and police will be recommending charges of Possession of Stolen Property against the man.

Original Release:

File 2012-32536       Man flees police into bush, police concerned for his safety
 
June 28th, 2012
 
Police are searching for a 26 year old man from Midway after he fled on foot from a police roadblock on Highway 33 yesterday evening.
 
On June 27th, 2012 at about 5:30pm, Central Okanagan Traffic Services members stopped a grey Ford F150 with a u-haul trailer at a roadblock on Highway 33 near Daves Road. The driver and passengers were about to be detained for the purpose of an investigation when the front passenger suddenly fled the scene on foot. He jumped a barbed wire fence and ran down the side of a ravine to avoid capture by police. A Police Service Dog was used to track the man for a significant distance but he could not be located. The man had apparently gone into a fast-flowing creek and his track could not be re-established.
 
The trailer was found to contain two ATV's that had been stolen out of Grande Prairie, Alberta.
 
The man has since been identified by the police who will be recommending charges of Possession of Stolen Property, but they are more concerned about his welfare. Due to the circumstances of his flight, there is a very real possibility that the man may be hurt.

The man is described as a Caucasian man, 5'10" and 175lbs with blonde hair and blue eyes. A clothing description is not available at this time.

The Kelowna RCMP, with the assistance of Search and Rescue, continue to make efforts to locate the man and are asking anyone that may have seen or heard from him to call the Kelowna RCMP at 250-762-3300.