Return of sex fiend riles up community

By Daily Courier Staff Sunday, June 10, 2007

Oliver residents are angry they weren‘t informed about a violent sex offender‘s return to their community on the weekend. It is believed some of Ronald Arthur Teneycke‘s crimes occurred in the South Okanagan town. Teneycke was released from Prince Albert Federal Corrections Institution on Jan. 11, after serving a 12-year sentence for sexual assault with a weapon, forcible confinement and uttering threats. He was also convicted of a second count of uttering threats while in custody. Police warn that Teneycke is a dangerous sex offender who poses a high risk to reoffend. He has an extensive criminal history, including violent sexual offences and weapons related offences. Oliver Mayor Ron Hovanes questioned Teneycke‘s return to the community. “It‘s my understanding that some of his offences took place here,” Hovanes said Sunday, “I‘ve already talked with individuals in the community who are visibly upset with this.” Hovanes said Teneycke‘s return “is almost like victimizing people all over again.” While Hovanes will discuss how to approach the matter with his council, he‘s certain it will rouse public outcry in the town of 5,000 people. “It‘s a shock,” he said. “I‘m pretty sick about it.”

Police could not release information on where Teneycke is living, but Hovanes indicated it won‘t take long before word gets out. Cpl. Dan Moskaluk said police first received news that Teneycke was coming to B.C. in early June, but before the public could legally be informed, RCMP had to seek a public interest notification under the Privacy Act of Canada. “For us to get somebody like that in town is certainly something we‘re taking seriously,” said Moskaluk. “We‘ve got plans we‘re setting into place to ensure public safety as best we can and to keep an eye on Mr. Teneycke.” People should familiarize themselves with Teneycke‘s physical appearance and report to police any suspicious behaviour said Moskaluk. “We don‘t want to create a big panic, but we do want people aware that he‘s here. . . . He‘s a violent sexual offender, and we want to, as best we can, keep people safe.” Teneycke is six feet, one inch tall and weighs 214 pounds. He has brown hair and blue eyes, and has tattoos on his left arm. Resident Wendy Johnson said she‘d like to know why police couldn‘t let the public know of Teneycke‘s plans. “I would like to know why we weren‘t told before it was a done deal,” said Johnson. “It makes me want to watch where I‘m going and look behind me to see who‘s there.” Gail Grimard, an Oliver resident since 1974, said this could alter people‘s sense of safety. “It‘s not his fault that he‘s allowed back out again. It‘s our system that we need to fix,” she said. “Someone like that – at high risk to reoffend – they shouldn‘t be allowed out on the streets.”