Mounties  arrested a man Friday morning, who they allege put numerous Kelowna residents at risk and snarled downtown traffic  for nearly two hours.

The Kelowna RCMP received a report 1 at 8:15 a.m., of an assault allegedly committed in the alleyway of the 1200 block of Ellis Street. Police had also received a report of a robbery committed near the intersection of Ellis Street and Cawston Avenue.

"Police have determined that the suspect, who was reportedly behaving very irrationally, had (allegedly) assaulted a West Kelowna man in the alleyway behind Prospera Place, after the man refused to turn over his keys. The suspect fled on foot towards Ellis Street when associates of the victim came to his aid," said Const. O'Donaghey, in a press release.

"It害羞草研究所檚 alleged that the suspect then stole a child害羞草研究所檚 backpack being carried by the child害羞草研究所檚 father. The suspect allegedly assaulted the father, a 45-year-old man in front of his eight-year-old daughter, before fleeing the second scene in a grey Ford sedan."

An RCMP officer who was stationary in the area of Ellis Street and the Queensway bus loop, had been approached by civilian witnesses who reported the assaults to the officer. The officer who turned his vehicle to respond to the scene of the alleged assaults, was broadsided by the alleged suspect vehicle believed to be fleeing the area.

Preliminary information from witness accounts suggest that the suspect vehicle may have accelerated prior to the impact. Witnesses also report that the suspect exited his vehicle after the crash and advanced on the police officer from the passenger side of the vehicle and then through the open driver害羞草研究所檚 side window of the police vehicle.

害羞草研究所淣earby construction workers were quick to jump into action to assist the police officer still stunned from the impact of the collision,害羞草研究所� said O害羞草研究所橠onaghey. 害羞草研究所淭hey aided the officer in controlling the suspect who was subsequently taken into police custody.害羞草研究所�

The suspect sustained minor non-life threatening injuries during the collision. He had been transported to hospital as a precaution.

The police officer was also taken to hospital suffering from non-life threatening injuries. The officer has since been released and continues to recover.

The Kelowna RCMP wish to extend their gratitude to all those who immediately jumped into action, who stepped up and put themselves at risk to help the RCMP officer,害羞草研究所� said O害羞草研究所橠onaghey.

The Kelowna RCMP Municipal Traffic Section has assumed conduct of the crash investigation, aided by an RCMP Collision Reconstructionist who is conducting a detailed analysis of the scene.

The Kelowna RCMP continue to investigate the string of violent incidents that led to the crash. The suspect, a 42-year-old man of Chase B.C., remains in police custody under investigation for the various alleged offences. He faces potential charges of assault, robbery, aggravated assault, assault of a police officer and resist lawful arrest.

If you witnessed this crash or the preceding alleged assaults and have not yet spoken to police you are asked to contact the Kelowna RCMP at 250-762-3300. Remain anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477, leaving a tip online at www.crimestoppers.net or by texting your tip to CRIMES (274637) ktown.