Vernon Family Terrorized by Local Prostitute and Drug Dealer After Accepting Donated Vehicle; Victims Fear for Their Lives.

 

VERNON, BC – A young Vernon family with a baby and a toddler is living in fear after becoming the target of repeated threats, intimidation, and violent harassment by Erica Belle Arlt, a known for drug and gang involvement. The family, who wishes to remain anonymous for their safety, says they are being terrorized over an SUV that was never even hers.

The situation stems from what began as an act of kindness. A generous individual loaned their SUV to Arlt in an effort to help her get her life back on track. Instead of turning her life around, Arlt allegedly lent the vehicle to two known drug dealers. Just weeks ago, police spotted the SUV at a known drug house in Salmon Arm. When officers pulled the vehicle over, it was found to be full of drugs and stolen property. The SUV was immediately confiscated and impounded. Arlt was not inside at the time.

The vehicle’s rightful owner then retrieved the impounded SUV and, in an act of genuine goodwill, donated it to a struggling young family in Vernon who desperately needed reliable transportation.

That donation has since turned into a nightmare.

Since receiving the donated SUV, the family has been repeatedly stalked, threatened, and cornered across Vernon by Arlt’s  associates—described by the family as “wannabe gangsters.” On multiple occasions, the family has been followed with their baby and toddler in the car. Arlt and her group have demanded the return of the SUV, despite the fact she never owned it, never paid for it, and had already lost possession of it through police impoundment.

Most alarming, the family has received direct threats of gun violence, including threats to shoot them over the vehicle. Attacks have occurred in public, in parking lots, and near their home. The family says they have done nothing wrong except accept a vehicle from a generous donor who simply wanted to help them.

“The only thing this family did was accept a donation from a kind-hearted person who tried to help Erica get back on her feet,” a source close to the family said. “Instead, she has made it clear that her involvement with gangs and drugs is more important than anything else. She is a known local prostitute and drug dealer attacking little kids and sending thugs to threaten a young family with a baby and a toddler in the car.”

Compounding public outrage is the fact that Erica Belle Arlt is currently out on bail for drug trafficking and conspiracy charges stemming from a prior arrest in 2023 for drug-related offenses. Questions are now being raised about how an individual facing serious charges is allowed to continue terrorizing innocent residents, including small children.

“How is this allowed to happen?” the source added. “She’s on bail for drug trafficking and conspiracy, and now she’s threatening to shoot a family over a car that was never hers. This is a public safety issue.”

Local residents are calling on Vernon RCMP and BC Prosecution Service to take immediate action, including revisiting Arlt’s bail status, before a young family is harmed.

The young family has asked the public and media to respect their anonymity due to ongoing fear for their children’s safety and their own lives.

Anyone with information about these incidents or ongoing threats is urged to contact Vernon North Okanagan RCMP immediately.

Media Contact:
Name withheld per family request
Email: [Not for publication – family can be reached through RCMP Victim Services]