By Cpl. Grant Simpson

This past week the Columbia Valley RCMP responded to 75 calls for service. A small sample of some of the calls we responded to throughout the week are highlighted below.

Dog euthanized, young woman bitten

On August 7 at 10:32 p.m., police were dispatched to a report of a dog bite. The complainant, a 45-year-old Wilmer resident, reported that his 19-year-old daughter was at the Invermere and District Hospital being treated for a dog bite injury to her face.

Police attended the hospital and spoke with the victim and some friends, one of whom was the driver of a white Alberta registered Buick in which the victim was a passenger. They had struck a dog while driving on Wilmer Road, in Wilmer. The victim got out of the car to render assistance to the injured dog when it nipped her on her right jaw, leaving two minor cuts. The owner of the dog, a 34-year-old female, attended the Invermere Veterinary Clinic to have her dog’s injuries assessed. Unfortunately the dog had to be euthanized as it’s injuries were too serious. This information was passed on to the victim and her family.

MVA after driver stops for sheep

On August 8, at 4:16 p.m., Columbia Valley RCMP received a report of a two-vehicle motor vehicle accident on Highway 93/95 just south of Radium Hot Springs.

The complainant added that the driver of a black Alberta registered pickup had struck a silver Land Rover, also Alberta registered, that had stopped for bighorn sheep that were crossing the road. Police responded immediately to the report and once on scene spoke with the complainant who provided a statement about what she had stated earlier.

The male driver of the black GMC pickup, which had struck the silver Land Rover, had been southbound on the Hwy 93/95 when he saw the silver Land Rover which was also southbound slowing or stopping for the sheep and didn’t have time to react. He admitted responsibility for the accident and was given a Violation ticket for Follow too Closely, Sec 162 (1) MVA. Photos were obtained of the accident scene and an accident report was provided to both parties. All parties involved were uninjured.

Prowler scared off

On August 8 a 73-year-old local male attended the Columbia Valley RCMP detachment to report a break and enter in the 1500 block of 7th Street in Invermere. He explained that at approximately 2:20 a.m. his doorbell rang at his house. When he got to the front door someone was turning the handle to the door and shined a light through the glass.

He yelled at the person(s) who ran away getting in a white pickup truck and leaving. In the morning it was discovered that his garage was left unlocked and a set of keys was stolen. The keys were not for his house or garage but he was worried that someone may come back or may be familiar with him. Police advised him to change all locks associated to the stolen keys. Investigation is ongoing.

Accident call mystery being unraveled

On August 8, at 6:19 pm, dispatch reported a motor vehicle accident on Madias-Tatley Forest Service road off Kootenay # 3 Road in Windermere. This call was made by a third party who reported that a male driver was under his truck and trying to get himself out.

The complainant did not know how far the male was up the road. Dispatch contacted the driver who advised that he had rolled his truck. Dispatch reported that the driver was belligerent and possibly intoxicated. He told dispatch to come and get him and then hung-up.

Emergency Health Services and Search & Rescue were mobilized. Police located a blue 1990 Chevrolet pick-up truck approximately two km up the Forest Service road. It was off to the left side of road and did not appear to have been in an accident or stuck.

The plate attached to the pickup was inactive and did not belong to it. VIN queries of the Chevrolet revealed that the registered owner was the driver’s wife. There were no registration papers in the vehicle. Police called the driver’s number and his wife answered the phone. She said that he was at home with her and that he was not injured. A local tow company was contacted to impound the Chevrolet. Police attended the driver’s residence where he said that he was not injured and that he did not roll his vehicle today but that he was in a roll over three days ago. He said that today he ran out of fuel. He appeared intoxicated as he was slurring his words. He was very unfriendly and angry with police but admitted that he was driving the Chevrolet. At approximately 9 p.m., the tow company advised that they had just observed the driver tow the Chevrolet to a property off Kootenay # 3 Road. Investigation into this incident is ongoing.

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