Home »
Columbia Valley RCMP Report
By Cpl. Grant Simpson
Columbia Valley RCMP responded to 42 calls for service over this past week. A few of them are highlighted below.
Bleach dumped in woman’s gas tank
On March 25, An Invermere resident called to report that someone had vandalized her vehicle. She advised that she was driving the vehicle with her son when the vehicle stalled and would not restart. She had the vehicle towed to a local automotive repair shop after noticing her gas tank had been left opened and unlatched. After a thorough inspection at the shop the mechanic called the owner to advise that someone had dumped bleach into her gas tank. Police were then contacted to investigate as the owner has a strong suspect with whom she has a very coloured past. Investigation is ongoing.
Edgewater fireworks
On March 25, at 9:27 p.m., Columbia Valley RCMP received a complaint that five gunshots were heard over a period of 45 minutes north of the store in Edgewater. The complainant said that the five shots were not fired in succession. Police attended immediately and patrolled the area and while doing so heard a loud firework set off. Police attended a residence they believed the firework had come from and spoke to the registered owner there. Police noted a bonfire and several people in the back yard. The owner confirmed that they had been shooting off fireworks and that at no time were they using a firearm. They assured police that they would not set off any more fireworks.
Vandal(s) break and enter causes damage
On March 27 a local man reported that at some point, over the weekend, his vacant home situated in the 2000 block of 13th Avenue in Invermere had been broken into. He advised that the point of entry appeared to be a kitchen window, adding that nothing was taken; there was no furniture in the home. However, a fire extinguisher had been set off and some light bulbs broken. The homeowner did not wish police to attend as she only wanted to report for documentation purposes.
Video surveillance being reviewed after B&E
Also on March 27, at 2:41 p.m., a local business owner contacted Columbia Valley RCMP to report a break and enter to his business in the Industrial Park some time over the weekend. The rear garage window of the property was broken, the phone line was cut, files in the office had been gone through, and there were some gouge marks on the floor safe. Nothing appeared to have been taken at this time. Video surveillance will be reviewed as police continue to investigate this incident.
Crash on Athalmer Bridge
Later, on March 27 at 6:35 p.m., police was dispatched to the bridge on Athalmer Road, Invermere, for a two-vehicle collision. A 62-year-old Windermere driver was eastbound on the bridge in her 2015 Ford Escape and struck a westbound 2010 GMC Sierra, driven by a 42-year-old Cranbrook man. Both vehicles suffered considerable damage. Police quickly entered an impaired driving investigation after the female admitted to drinking vodka and noted an odour of liquor on her breath. A decision was made to take her to the Invermere & District Hospital for assessment, as she was unable to provide proper breath samples. Her blood will, therefore, be analyzed. Investigation is ongoing.
– Cpl. Grant Simpson is a member of the Columbia Valley RCMP Detachment
