Nanaimo RCMP say a local man is facing several criminal charges following an incident at a downtown coffee shop earlier this week. Police were called around noon on January 13 to a business at 8–90 Front Street after a confrontation between a customer and the store manager. The situation escalated, resulting in an assault and damage to property, according to RCMP. The following day, the BC Prosecution Service approved five charges against 40-year-old Aiden Tye of Nanaimo. He faces charges of assault, assault with a weapon, mischief, committing an indecent act in public, and exposure of an in

British Columbia will allow its three-year drug decriminalization pilot project to expire at the end of this month, with the provincial government confirming it will not seek an extension from Health Canada. Health Minister Josie Osborne said the pilot, which was launched to encourage people to seek help without fear of criminal penalties, did not produce the outcomes the province had hoped for. The exemption from the federal Controlled Drugs and Substances Act is scheduled to end on Jan. 31. The decriminalization initiative began in January 2023 and permitted adults to possess up to 2.5 grams

An overpass strike involving a commercial truck has partially shut down Highway 1 eastbound in Surrey, prompting an investigation by BC Highway Patrol and traffic delays for commuters. Police say the collision occurred near the 192 Street overpass when a flatdeck truck towing an excavator struck the structure, causing visible damage. The eastbound right lane of Highway 1 was closed immediately as a precaution while safety assessments began. BC Highway Patrol was called to the scene shortly before 9:30 a.m. after motorists reported witnessing the incident. Officers are now working with Commerci

A Vancouver man is facing a criminal charge after police say a dispute over a burger order escalated into a violent assault at a downtown fast-food restaurant. According to Vancouver police, the incident happened around 7:05 p.m. on January 12 at a restaurant on Granville Street. Investigators allege a customer demanded free bacon on his burger and became aggressive when told he would have to pay for the extra item. Police say the suspect went behind the counter and into the kitchen area, where he allegedly punched a 23-year-old cook in the face. The worker suffered a serious facial injury and

Authorities are asking for public help in locating a missing 16-year-old boy from Surrey. Chetan Binning has not been seen since yesterday. He is approximately 5 feet 10 inches tall, with curly hair and a distinctive mark under his right eye. Chetan was last spotted around 4:30 p.m. in the Sullivan Heights area of Surrey. Police are urging anyone with information about his whereabouts to contact them immediately at 604-719-4442. A photo of Chetan Binning is available on the Connect FM website to assist with identification. Officials continue to search the area and appeal to the community for a

A Kelowna man is facing potential criminal charges after BC Highway Patrol officers allege he was driving while impaired by drugs on one of the city’s busiest roads. Police say the incident happened just after 10:30 a.m. on Harvey Avenue, when an officer in an unmarked patrol vehicle was passed by a driver who appeared to have a glass pipe in his mouth. The vehicle was stopped a short time later. According to BC Highway Patrol, the 56-year-old driver told officers he was “only” smoking marihuana. Corporal Michael McLaughlin said any form of drug impairment, including cannabis, is illegal

Several children were taken to hospital after a school bus left a highway in western Manitoba on Tuesday morning, according to RCMP. Police say the bus rolled off the road south of Mafeking, near the community of Swan River, roughly 550 kilometres northwest of Winnipeg. Emergency crews responded to the scene shortly after the crash was reported. RCMP confirmed that four people on board the bus suffered significant but non-life-threatening injuries and were transported to hospital for treatment. Other passengers were assessed at the scene and were also taken to hospital as a precaution. The cau

Lake Country RCMP say two men have been arrested following an early morning break and enter that investigators believe is connected to a series of similar crimes targeting businesses in Kelowna. Police were called to a business in the 11,000 block of Oceola Road around 3:00 a.m. Sunday after receiving a report of a break and enter in progress. Officers contained the area and arrested two male suspects as they exited the building carrying tools commonly associated with break and enter offences. RCMP say a search of the suspects uncovered identifiable property and Canadian currency believed to b

Communities across British Columbia’s south coast and Vancouver Island have been hit with intense rainfall over the past three days as an atmospheric river moved through the region, prompting evacuation orders, alerts and ongoing flood warnings. Environment Canada says several areas recorded more than 100 millimetres of rain between Saturday and Monday, with the Kennedy Lake Forestry Station on Vancouver Island measuring nearly 286 millimetres during the period. On the mainland, Port Mellon reported 204 millimetres, while Ucluelet recorded 168 millimetres and Squamish received 132 millimetre