Home »
Columbia Valley RCMP Report
By Cpl. Grant Simpson
Columbia Valley RCMP responded to 39 calls for service over the past week. Here are just a few of them.
DUI for Windermere resident
At 1:35 a.m. on Oct. 11, Columbia Valley RCMP stopped a 1994 GMC Sierra on Windermere Loop Road, near Hwy 93/95. The driver, a 20-year-old Windermere resident, had an odor of liquor on his breath and admitted to drinking alcohol prior to driving. He provided two breath samples into two
separate Alcohol Screening Devices (ASDs), which both registered a ‘fail’ reading. The young driver was served a 90-day Immediate Roadside Prohibition and his vehicle was impounded for 30 days.
Mistake cause of keys going missing
On October 11, a 51-year old female resident of Invermere called Columbia Valley RCMP to report that her keys may have been taken from the Pharmasave in Invermere.
The woman advised that on October 10, at approximately 5:25 p.m., she had left her keys at the checkout counter and when she returned they were gone. Police, along with Pharmasave’s owner, reviewed the video surveillance, which showed the woman put her keys down and then along with the cashier went back down an aisle to retrieve another item. Another woman is seen standing next in line; however, she does not take the keys while both the woman and the cashier are gone. It is noted that the cashier returns as the woman continues to shop and helps the ‘other’ woman who was next in line. The ‘other’ woman appears to pick the keys up by accident and put them into her purse with many of her own belongings that were on the counter. Police are of the opinion that this was a mistake and that the ‘other’ woman may not have yet noticed the foreign keys in her bag.
Police updated the woman with the lost keys regarding the outcome of reviewing the video surveillance and what appears to have happened.
She explained that her key chain had a Dodge key, a house key and some charms on it. She and police are hopeful that the ‘other’ woman returns the keys to Pharmasave or Columbia Valley RCMP once she realizes her mistake.
Fresh weed smell leads to seizure
On October 11, at approximately 10:15 p.m., Columbia Valley RCMP stopped a 1998 Honda Civic on Pine Ridge Mountain Run at Pine Ridge Drive, Invermere, as the driver was going very slowly. Upon approaching the vehicle and speaking with the driver an odor of fresh marijuana was noted. The 21-year-old female driver from Radium Hot Springs and a 19-year-old male passenger were arrested for possession of a controlled substance.
A search located approximately 10 grams of marijuana in the centre console of the vehicle as well as two grinders. A bong was also located in the back seat area. The marijuana and paraphernalia were seized for destruction. The vehicle was then driven by a sober friend as the female driver had admitted to smoking marijuana 30 minutes prior to driving. Charges are not being pursued at this time.
Impaired charge after stop in downtown Invermere
On October 12, Columbia Valley RCMP were conducting patrols throughout downtown Invermere when a Honda Accord was seen driving southbound on 7A Ave in Invermere, with no head lights on. Police conducted a traffic stop and the driver, identified as a local 22-year-old male, showed multiple signs of impairment. As a result police entered into an impaired driving investigation.
After providing two samples of breath into two separate ASDs it was found that the driver was impaired. The vehicle was impounded for 30 days. Due to the driver’s level of intoxication, he was brought to the Columbia Valley RCMP Detachment and lodged in cells for ongoing monitoring. He was released the following morning when sober and able to understand that he was being served with documentation advising him that he was now Prohibited from driving for a period of 90 days.
Vehicle rolls down drive and embankment
On October 13, at 7:50 a.m., Columbia Valley RCMP received dispatch of a single vehicle collision that occurred sometime overnight in the 1400 block of 7th Street, Invermere. The complainant, a 55-year-old local woman, reported that her 2003 Jeep Liberty had rolled out of her driveway and down a steep embankment. She believed that someone may have taken the vehicle out of gear and then pushed it down the embankment. Police attended and located the vehicle down a 50-foot embankment.
The vehicle received extensive damage from rolling over. Police determined that the vehicle doors had been left unlocked, the standard transmission left in neutral, and the emergency brake released. The owner advised that they usually leave it in gear, with the emergency brake activated and doors locked. Police determined that there were no witnesses or suspects. There was a slight downhill grade from the location in which the vehicle was parked to the embankment. Police were unable to find any indication or evidence that someone had entered the vehicle and pushed it out of the driveway.
The vehicle was extricated by a local towing and recovery business.
Columbia Valley RCMP
