The body of a Salmon Arm man has been discovered in Kamloops.

A city bylaw officer found the body inside a newer model Toyota SUV late Wednesday morning.

The vehicle had been parked illegally.

Police have identified the deceased as Shane Slusarchuk, 49, from the Salmon Arm area.

Slusarchuk was last seen on December 18, leaving a friend’s house in Blind Bay near Salmon Arm to go to a corner store.

"Nothing was found to suggest the death to be suspicious in nature," says RCMP Sgt, Scott Wilson.

Wilson says police believe Slusarchuk may have been parked in the same location for several days prior to his body being discovered.

He says cause of death is not known.

A loaded gun, drugs and cash were seized from a North Okanagan hotel room over the weekend.

Vernon RCMP executed a search warrant at two units at the Blue Stream Motel just after 4 p.m. Friday.

RCMP spokesperson, Gord Molendyk, says five people were arrested.

“During the search of the units, 56 grams of cocaine, 13 grams of heroin, $1,500 cash and a loaded 9mm handgun were seized,” says Molendyk.

He says a 25-year-old man from Vernon remains in custody and is expected to face charges for two drug related offences and two firearm related charges.

Two separate weekend robberies are being investigated in the North Okanagan.

Vernon RCMP responded to the two robberies which took place within a half hour of each other Saturday night.

RCMP spokesperson, Gord Molendyk, says the first robbery took place around 8:45 p.m. at the 7-11 on 39th Avenue.

“A man came into the store and told the clerk ‘this is a robbery, call the police.’ The clerk called police. While on line with the dispatch centre, the suspect would correct the clerk as she provided information about him,” says Molendyk.

He says police arrested the 19-year-old suspect in the store.

“He is expected to face charges of attempted robbery. He did not produce a weapon.”

Molendyk says the second robbery took place at Toro’s Pub on Kalamalka Lake Road around 8:45 p.m.

“A man approached the clerk and demanded money at knife point. He made off with an undisclosed amount of cash.“

The suspect is described as 5’8” to 5’10”, approx. 40 to 45 years old. He was seen wearing a green army type jacket with a grey sweater pulled up around his face.

A suspect has been arrested in connection with a string of recent robberies in the North Okanagan.

A robbery was reported at the Money Mart at the Fruit Union Plaza on Highway 6 just after 5:30 p.m. Saturday.

While responding to the report, Vernon RCMP spotted a silver Pontiac which had been described in connection with a series of robberies and attempted robberies on December 31.

RCMP spokesperson, Gord Molendyk, says the officers stopped the vehicle and spoke with the driver, a 37-year-old man.

“Other officers attended the Money Mart scene and spoke to the clerk. The description of the suspect provided to officers at the scene matched the clothing worn by the man in the silver Pontiac and he was arrested,” says Molendyk.

He says the suspect, a Vernon resident, remains in custody and is expected to appear in court later Monday. He faces six counts of robbery.

Update: RCMP have released the name of the suspect. Shawn Bowers has been remanded until January 14, when he will face four charges of robbery. (3:07 p.m.)

Link: String of robberies in Vernon

The body of a missing fisherman has been recovered in the North Okanagan.

David Gowing, 57, was reported missing by his wife on New Year’s Eve.

The RCMP dive team began searching Sugar Lake near Lumby over the weekend and found Gowing’s body early Saturday in about six metres of water.

RCMP officials say that they found his truck and snowmobile about an hour after he was reported missing and from evidence at the scene, they determined he had walked out onto the lake to go ice fishing.