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Columbia Valley RCMP Report
By Cpl. Grant Simpson
Columbia Valley RCMP responded to approximately 46 calls for service over the past week. Here are a few interesting ones.
Golf pro’s gear stolen
On March 5, A 30-year-old local golf pro from Fairmont Hot Springs called Columbia Valley RCMP to report his golf clubs and golf bag stolen from his unlocked vehicle that was parked in his driveway overnight (between 7 p.m. and 7:30 a.m.). The vehicle was parked in the front yard of the 5000 block of Fairmont Close, in Fairmont. A training aid that he uses with his students was left on the ground by his car. Clubs and bag are worth approximately $3,000 retail. His name is embroidered on his golf bag, which is white, black and red. The brand of bag and clubs is TaylorMade. One of the clubs has a bald eagle head cover and the driver has a bright yellow shaft. One of the pro’s friends also had his vehicle gone through, and the door to vehicle left open which drained the battery. A neighbour advised that he noticed a suspicious red van, similar to a 1992 Dodge with dim lights parked by the pro’s residence at around 2 a.m. that night. Police continue to investigate and are asking anyone with further information to contact them or Crimestoppers.
Main street collision
On March 7 at 5:47 p.m., Columbia Valley RCMP received dispatch of a two-vehicle collision at 1310-7th Avenue, Invermere. The complainant reported that he had been backing out of a parking spot on 13th Street when he struck a vehicle that had been turning left into an adjacent parking spot. Police attended and spoke with both parties. The complainant was requesting an accident report as he was from out of province. A 1994 GMC truck being driven by an 18-year-old male had been turning left into a parking spot when his vehicle made contact with the complainant’s 2013 Ford Flex on the rear passenger side. Both vehicles received minimal damages and were able to be driven away. An accident report was completed and provided to both parties for insurance purposes. Both vehicles were in motion when they made contact.
Windshield broken by marble
On April 8, at 6:58 p.m., dispatch reported mischief to a vehicle located in the 1300 block of 17th street in Invermere. The complainant and registered owner reported that the windshield to his black 2013 Chrysler 200 was damaged by a marble that he found on his driveway. Police attended and the complainant reported that the damage would have occurred sometime between last Tuesday and Friday. There were two small chips and one crack from one of the chips. Photos of the damage were obtained which was approximately $300. The marble, approximately one inch in diameter and clear with orange and green colour inside, was seized. Apparently the neighbour found one in their driveway as well. No other vehicles in the neighbourhood were reported damaged.
School broken into
On April 10, at 3:33 a.m., Columbia Valley RCMP was dispatched to an alarm at JA Laird Elementary School in Invermere (pictured above). Dispatch reported that the first hit was to classroom 103 and the second hit was to the east exit. Police attended and saw a male figure running on the school grounds. Police attempted to follow but lost sight. Upon returning to the school police located a door on the north side of the building ajar. The door was unlocked and did not look damaged. Police cleared the building and in doing so noted some posters were ripped off a wall and a screen from a window was bent and found outside. School District No. 6 Operations Manager also attended the school and did not find anything else damaged stolen at this time.
Unwanted guest spends night in cells
In the early morning of April 11, a local male phoned the RCMP to assist in removing an unwanted guest from his residence located in the 1400 block of 15th Avenue in Invermere. The complainant had a party and was shutting it down but another male refused to leave. Police attended and found the guest grossly intoxicated standing on the sidewalk in front of the house. Police asked the guest where he was three times and got three different answers. He was not making much sense and slurring his words heavily. Police felt that the guest was unable to care for himself and arrested him for being intoxicated in a public place. He was lodged in cells and was released in the morning when sober with a violation ticket for Intoxicated in a Public Place.
