Update: 'Armed and dangerous' man thought to be in West Kootenay caught in Osoyoos
By Kyra Hoggan
The RCMP got their man, David Wesley Bobbitt, Wednesday thanks to an alert orchardist just south of Oliver.
RCMP spokesman Cpl. Dan Moskaluk said Bobbitt, 35, was trying to set up camp on the orchardist’s property when the owner approached the Penticton man and asked him to leave.
“Following the conversation between the two, the orchardist recognized Bobbitt,” Moskaluk said.
The RCMP was called and Bobbitt was arrested Wednesday evening without incident as he was walking along Highway 97, near Osoyoos.
Bobbitt was being sought in connection with the beating of a 27-year-old woman in Penticton, who was reported missing this Saturday.
She was found by police early Sunday morning, tied to a bed, after being held captive, sexually assaulted and beaten for more than 12 hours.
The woman is now in hospital being treated for non-life-threatening injuries. Her 22-month-old son was also held captive and witnessed the attack on his mother, but was not injured. Police say a tip from the woman’s family that led them to Bobbitt’s second-hand store (which also serves as his residence), where they found the back door ajar and the woman tied up. Despite bringing in dog units to comb the area, police were unable to locate Bobbitt. A Canada-wide warrant for attempted murder has been issued for Bobbitt. Bobbitt, appearing in court Thursday, was allegedly spotted at the Castlegar Pharmasave and Safeway Tuesday.
During the brief appearance in Penticton Courtroom Bobbitt spared verbally with the victim’s sister and estranged boyfriend.
Bobbitt was remanded in custody and will undergo a psychiatric assessment.
