On May 21st, 2015, a Penticton man was kidnapped and seriously assaulted in the early morning hours. The victim was found in a ditch by a motorist on Shingle Creek Road with a broken leg and restraints on his hands.

At the time, police believed the abduction and beating to be targeted and an isolated incident.

A combined task force which consisted of the Penticton General Investigation Section, Crime Reduction Unit, Drug Task Force, and Forensic Identification Section, were assigned to investigate this occurrence.

Early in the investigation four suspects were quickly identified and on May 21st, 2015;

John SZANTO was arrested and charged with kidnapping, forcible confinement, and aggravated assault.A warrant for those same charges was issued for Kerry ELLIS and Albert FONTAINE.

ELLIS was arrested in Summerland on May 22nd, 2015 and Albert FONTAINE was arrested in Abbotsford, by the Abbotsford Police Emergency Response Team, on July 1st, 2015.

On August 26th, 2015, a warrant, with the additional charge of choking, was issued for Carey ANDERSON.

ANDERSON was arrested in Osoyoos on August 28th, 2015.

All four males are currently in custody pending further court appearances. A fifth man had been arrested and released without charge pending further investigation.

The Penticton RCMP is asking for the public’s assistance to come forward with any additional unreported information about this event or to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS. “