By. Cpl. Brent Ayers

Between the dates of November 25 and December 2, Columbia Valley RCMP Detachment responded to roughly 54 calls for service.

Nine of these complaints were motor vehicle accidents; five complaints involving incidents concerning mental health, which can include substance abuse and or overdose of prescription and or non prescription drugs and alcohol. Reports of assaults, drug trafficking and other investigations were initiated with only a fraction being concluded.

Two more major snow events contributed to some of the traffic hazards and accidents due to the precipitation and drastic change in temperature.  South East District traffic was up and worked through the Columbia Valley Detachment area in support of the RCMP National and Provincial Road Safety Initiatives targeted at taking impaired drivers off of the road. This targeted enforcement will continue!

He was warned 

On November 28, at 12:30 p.m., Columbia Valley RCMP stopped a black car with Alberta license plates on Timbermont Road at Timberside Place, Windermere. The driver admitted to not having a driver’s licence or insurance. The driver was served a ticket for no DL, and no insurance. The driver was also served an unlicensed driver prohibition and a Notice of Impoundment on the vehicle.  The vehicle was towed and impounded as per the law. This vehicle had been a subject of complaint for a few previous incidents and the driver had been warned prior by Cpl. Ayers.

Not too bright

On November 29 at 11:54 p.m., Columbia Valley RCMP stopped a Toyota car with Alberta license plates on Athalmer Road, Invermere, as the driver had their bright lights on. The officer, upon speaking with the driver, could smell liquor on the driver’s breath and they admitted to drinking before driving. The driver provided two breath samples into two separate Approved Screening Devices (ASDs), which both registered a ‘FAIL’ reading.  The driver was served a 90-Day Immediate Roadside Prohibition (IRP), as well as a 30-day vehicle impoundment.

No registration, no insurance

On November 29 at 6:14 p.m. Columbia Valley RCMP stopped a Volvo with Quebec plates on 7th Avenue and 13th Street, Invermere. The driver was served a violation ticket for no registration and no insurance, and the vehicle was towed home.

Tequila mushroom mess at Panorama

On November 27, at 11:15 p.m., BC Ambulance requested assistance at the Horsethief Lodge at Panorama Mountain Village, for three people overdosing. Upon attendance by Columbia Valley RCMP a subject was noted sitting outside yelling and screaming at nobody and everybody. The subject appeared very agitated, was verbally aggressive and was not calming down. The behavior was not normal for the known subject and medical care was required. The subject was apprehended under the Mental Health Act by police. The subject actively resisted; however, was taken into the care of BC Ambulance and brought to a doctor for medical assessment. It was later deduced that the subject had taken mushrooms and drank tequila, but was released once sober.

Fairmont hill slide and crash

On November 30, Columbia Valley RCMP were dispatched to a single vehicle collision where a Ford pickup truck had gone off the road and hit a tree on the road coming down from Fairmont Hot Springs Resort.

Upon attendance it was found that an Alberta registered black Ford F350 had gone off road right with its front end smashed into a tree. All occupants had left the truck and returned to the Fairmont Lodge. The vehicle appeared to have extensive front-end damage and air bags had been deployed. All advised they had minor injuries, a banged up knee and a finger they thought may be fractured, however they again refused ambulance service.

The driver advised that they had been travelling approximately 20-25 km/h down the hill from the resort and when they attempted to navigate the sharp curve about halfway down, the truck lost control and was unable to regain control. The truck went off road into the gravel shoulder and slid into a cluster of trees, striking one tree head on. The road was notably ice/snow covered and had not been sanded or salted; the sharp 90 degree curve is coupled with a steep grade. The driver’s licence had expired two days prior, which was apparent the driver was unaware of. That was dealt with by police.

Tools stolen from Telus

On November 30 a subject from Telus attended the detachment to report the theft of tools from the locked Telus building on 7th Avnue in Invermere. The subject has been off work since May and just returned last week.

Missing tools include: coaxial cable metre and testing tube; testing metre `950`2 plus DSL testing tube; Bird Dog satellite tester; HP Elite tablet.

All testing tube are valued between $2,000-$8,000. At this time there are no suspects or witnesses and if anybody has any information involving this theft please contact the Columbia Valley RCMP quoting file number 2014-2700.

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