SUMMERLAND, B.C. — A would-be cowboy from Alberta managed to wrangle a court date and not much else following a series of bizarre incidents in southern B.C.
The case began Monday when someone broke into a Summerland home — downing a beer, grabbing a shower and switching his dirty duds for clean clothes, before stealing three handguns and making off in the family pickup.
Apparently lacking any guard dog chops, Spud the border collie slept through it all in a crate in the back of the stolen truck.
A Summerland Mountie investigating the break-in recognized the abandoned clothing, which included a black shirt with “Wrangler” written in pink.
“When our officer noted the missing cowboy clothes, and the familiar looking clothing left behind, an odd encounter with a young male from earlier that day before the B&E was reported, twigged in the constable’s memory,” RCMP said in a statement.
“When the two crossed paths earlier in town, an overly talkative (man) explained that he was on his way to the Calgary Stampede before going on his way on foot.”
The officer returned to the store and obtained security footage that indeed had images of the self-proclaimed cowboy in the clothes found in the home.
“During inquiries with local businesses witnesses repeated that the suspect stated he was trying to become a professional rodeo star and was heading to Calgary to compete in rodeo,” said Cpl. Dan Moskaluk.
On Tuesday, the stolen pickup was spotted in a Kelowna parking lot but sped away.
The dog crate tumbled out the back and RCMP say the driver apparently decided to return for the dog when he was corralled by police.
No handguns were found in the vehicle, police said, and they are trying to track down the stolen property.
Myles Ethier, 22, of Carvel, Alta., faces break and enter and stolen property charges. Ethier is scheduled to return to court Monday.
Spud is OK.