A man who allegedly hit a Salmon Arm store employee with an ice cream product is in custody and facing charges. 

At 9 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 10, police received a report from the employee about a man shoplifting. The employee, of a business in the 100 block of Highway 1, said she was familiar with the man from prior thefts. 

"The man went right to the ice cream display and began gathering multiple ice cream products," said RCMP Const. Andrew Hodges in a media release. "The employee told the man to put the items back.

"As she approached him, he pushed her out of the way so he could exit the store, and hit her on the head with one of the ice-cream products."

Responding officers were able to identify the suspect from video footage, and approval was obtained for charges of assault, uttering threats and theft against 39-year-old Tyler Chamberlain, who was located and arrested on Jan. 15. Chamberlain was held for a bail hearing and a judge remanded him in custody.