On the 11th day of September 2013 in the afternoon, members of the Cranbrook/Kimberley RCMP drug task force located two males in possession of a large amount of cocaine adjacent to the Wardner/Ft Steele Road near the intersection of Highway #3.The officers moved in to make an arrest and took one male into custody as the second male fled and jumped into the Kootenay River. Additional officers were immediately dispatched from the Cranbrook area and Cranbrook and Kimberley Search and Rescue were activated and searched the river, assisted by the RCMP helicopter and a police service dog team.

Thirty five year old Calgary resident Jared STRECHENIUK was arrested at the scene and appeared in Cranbrook Provincial Court facing one charge of Possession of a Controlled Substance for the Purposes of Trafficking and will appear again on Monday, September 16th.

The second male, 40 year old Jason BAKER remains at large and is considered as a missing person. The Cranbrook RCMP are actively looking for him, to ensure his safety, and are seeking a warrant for his arrest.

If anyone knows his whereabouts, they are asked to call their local police.

Released on behalf of

Cpl P.E.(Pat) PREFONTAINE

Media Relations Officer

Cranbrook RCMP