Columbia Valley RCMP Report

By S/Sgt. Marko Shehovac

While attending to a complaint in the 900 block of Government Street at 3 p.m. on Jan. 18, Columbia Valley RCMP Detachment Cst. Bell became aware of a young black and white cat out in the cold. The cat was vocal and continued to follow Cst. Bell to the point it eventually followed her back to the police car. It was later determined that the cat was not associated to the residence associated to the call.

As it was obvious the cat was trying to communicate as best it can that it was in distress to the point it was going to jump in the car with or without permission, Cst. Bell allowed the cat to enter and took it directly to ICAN. ICAN, which cares for many cats, will have it placed on their Facebook site. If you had a cat escape on you please contact ICAN as soon as possible. If you get an opportunity to support the volunteers at ICAN, please do so.

Continued fraud alerts

Seems like the emails and letters coming to request an urgent deposit of money are still ongoing.

With a little more of a twist the people are obviously using social media to gain personal information, attempting to use this to their advantage. One such email actually named persons known to the attended victim requesting $1,800 as they were robbed while vacationing in another country. Another letter/email was advising that a family member was in trouble and a lawyer representing the family member need money urgently wired to them and it is needed immediately. Do not fall for these attempts to get your money.

Investigation into payment altered at bank

On Jan. 13, Columbia Valley Detachment began investigating a fraud where a local company paid a male by cheque and the dollar amount was altered and presented to the bank. The investigation is continuing.

Hit and run on Saturn

At 8:40 p.m. on Jan. 15, the detachment received a complaint of hit and run where an unknown vehicle believed to be a pickup backed into a 2007 Saturn. The Saturn was pushed back approximately three feet.

Fraudulent attempt to get drugs

At 2:20 p.m. on Jan. 15, Columbia Valley Detachment attended to a complaint of fraud/impersonation when a 35-year-old female from Golden presented a BC Care Card belonging to another person in attempts to obtain medication. The female was arrested as she was about to depart the area when she realized police were called. The investigation is continuing and charges will be forwarded to Crown.

44-year-old arrested for assault

At 8:32 p.m. on Jan. 17, Columbia Valley Detachment responded to a complaint of assault in the 200 block of 10th Avenue. A 44-year-old male from Invermere was arrested for assault. The incident was alcohol related.

Erratic driving leads to check

At 2:19 a.m. on Jan. 19, police observed a 2012 Toyota drive in an erratic manner. The driver, a 31-year-old female from Invermere, displayed signs of having consumed liquor. An ASD demand resulted in a warn. The vehicle was impounded for three days.

Snowmobile patrols

RCMP conducted a recent patrol in the area of Paradise Bowl (west of Invermere). There has been some avalanche activity in the area. Patrols will continue throughout the winter.

Walk around the block

When I look back at the start of my career in the RCMP in ‘75 to present day, I would have to say technology pushed me in leaps and bounds. Old dog learning lots of new tricks.

Back in the day when I would get steamed up about something from up above, I would sit at the typewriter and do up a response. The nice thing about the time it takes to type up a response, proofread and mail it, is I would realize maybe I should not send it out. Had that time to cool off. Today, I would get heated up and jump on the computer, vent out my frustration, hit a button and it’s gone. The keyboard tends to get me in trouble. No time for the brain to send a message to the fingers to stop.

On a few occasions a boss would phone me and recommend that before I send some emails I should at first take a walk around the block. One time, had one of my superiors who received one of my famous text, text back and request I call him immediately.

I text back that I would call him in 15 minutes to allow him time to cool down. I sometimes question their sense of humor. Every now and then I put them to the test.

Example: Received an email from my boss that they hired a private consultant to come in and give a lecture on leadership. The theme of his leadership seminar was ‘Are you Commanding a Battleship or a Cruise liner.’ I thought of my budget and what was expected of me on the budget and my immediate email back to him was, “Sir, I’m commanding a dingy and I’m taking on water.” Hit the send button; then thought, I hope he’s having a good day.

He responded back within minutes. I was reluctant to open the email. When I did, the answer as to what kind of day he was having was in front of me. He replied, “I’m here to help, I have a bucket.”

Lead image from: ICAN’s Facebook site

Article Share