RCMP arrest two men believed responsible for theft of catalytic converter
By Castlegar Source
On February 12,, at approximately 3 a.m., frontline officers with the Castlegar RCMP were conducting patrols at the summit of Bombi Pass, on Hwy 3, where they located a grey Volkswagen with two male occupants. Officers confirmed the vehicle had been reported stolen out of Trail on November 26th, 2022. Both men were subsequently arrested for possessing stolen property. A search of the vehicle resulted in officers seizing a cordless cutting tool, a catalytic converter, and a large quantity of suspected illegal drugs.
The officers examined two vehicles parked nearby and observed one of them was missing its catalytic converter. The catalytic converter which was located in the stolen Volkswagen appeared to have been the same catalytic converter missing from this vehicle. Additionally, a second parked vehicle was later observed to have its exhaust pipe partially cut.
Of the two men arrested was David Redding, a 50-year-old Fruitvale resident, who, at the time of his arrest, was on court ordered bail conditions not to occupy a driver’s seat of a motor vehicle. The BC Prosecution Service has approved charges against David Redding for possession of stolen property under $5,000, and failing to comply with his release order. Redding was remanded into custody pending his court appearance on February 21, 2023.
The second accused, a 33-year-old Fruitvale resident, was released from police custody on bail conditions to next appear in Castlegar Provincial Court on April 5, 2023.
The investigation continues which includes the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act investigation related to the suspected illegal drugs seized from within the stolen vehicle.
Since the beginning of this year, Castlegar RCMP have received four separate reports of catalytic converters being stolen from vehicles in the Castlegar area. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Castlegar RCMP at (250) 365-7721.
