Columbia Valley RCMP Report

The Columbia Valley RCMP Detachment received a complaint March 29 of theft of a vehicle when a 2008 Honda Civic was not returned to Invermere Sales and Rental.  The vehicle was rented by a 23-year-old female from Cranbrook and it was due to be returned by March 20. Cranbrook RCMP Detachment conducted patrols and the vehicle was located at a residence associated to the female who rented the vehicle. The investigation is continuing.

Stolen vehicle in single MVA

Columbia Valley Detachment received a March 29 report of a single vehicle accident involving a 2008 GMC pickup.

The driver of the vehicle was not injured and advised a witness that a friend would be picking him up. Members attended and realized the vehicle was well off the road and left it for the owner to tow the vehicle. It wasn’t until the next morning that the vehicle was reported stolen out of Cranbrook. The witness was identified and provided a statement to the police. The driver of the vehicle was not known to the witness.

Early morning spat evaporates before police arrive

Columbia Valley Detachment members were called to a disturbance in the 200 block of Subdivision Rd. in Windermere at 4 a.m. on March 30. Two adult females were arguing. Police attended but the people involved in the disturbance were no longer in the area. Patrols and checking houses were negative.

Would be Fernie scrapper calmed down

Columbia Valley detachment members responded to a 3:45 a.m. disturbance at Panorama April 1, near the hotel area.  A 28-year-old male was found to have been in an altercation with unknown persons. The 28-year-old from Fernie was earlier reported to be looking for a fight with other patrons on the hill. The male was not co-operating with police. Friends of the male approached the police and indicated they would take the male back to his room and ensure he remains in his room.

Alarm scares off ‘racoons’

Columbia Valley Detachment members responded to a residential alarm in the 1700 block of 2nd Avenue in Invermere at 9:30 p.m. April 1. It appears that an attempt was made to gain entry. However, the alarm appeared to do its job.

Dealing with a language barrier

I have found during my many years of service that we will often come upon people due to some strong accents or language barriers. You struggle to try to work through what they are trying to tell you.

This happened to me in Maple Ridge; but the language problem came from one of my co-workers, Cst Bill Leslie. He was a new member to the detachment, hailing from the Maritimes. It was probably my first face-to-face opportunity to speak to a Maritimer, or at least attempt to speak to a Maritimer.

One day he was flustered and stressed out when he approached me stating, “I’ve just about had it with these torst.” I soaked this in and asked who it was he was fed up with.  “Torst,” he responded. Still have no idea what or who he is talking about and I asked him to say it real slow. He did, “t-o-r-s-t.” Now I was starting to get flustered and Bill must have thought I was from another planet when I explained to him that I have no idea who he’s talking about.

He shouts repeatedly “torst, torst, torst,” implying that I’m pretty stupid if I can’t understand who he is talking about. I responded, “you’re fed up with terrorist?” Not aware we had any terrorists in Maple Ridge.

At this point he’s ready to strike me. I finally give up and tell Bill that I have absolutely no idea who or what a torst is. He then describes a torst. Funny hats, stupid shirts, walking around with cameras and taking pictures all over the place. I respond with, “you mean tourists.” Yes, torst he responds. Now he’s happy that we are communicating.

I then asked him a question that I have been wanting answered for some time. What is “Iz thby th bies  thbo an Iz thby  thasailer? ” He said that was pretty easy and slowly explained, “I’m the boy that built the boat and I’m the boy that sails her.” Foolish me.

We remain friends, and my Maritime language has greatly improved.

S/Sgt. Marko Shehovac

Columbia Valley RCMP Detachment

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