Columbia Valley RCMP Report

Columbia Valley RCMP officers responded to 78 calls for service over this past week. Some of the more noteworthy incidents are outlined below.

Convoluted but…

On May 30 at 8:03 a.m., Columbia Valley RCMP were dispatched to a call of an unwanted male in a residence in the 1000 block of 4th Avenue in Invermere. Soon after the initial complaint, an update came that injuries were involved as blood was noticed on the male. The male was escorted out of the home by the owner.

Police attended to the area, and located a male matching the description, with blood on his face. The suspect was arrested for being intoxicated in a public place. While this suspect was being dealt with members in close proximity located a second suspect matching the description (also with blood on his face ). He too was placed under arrest for being intoxicated in a public place.

Both individuals were brought back to Invermere cells. Later that morning a local male attended the detachment to complain that someone was unlawfully in his kitchen at approximately 8 a.m. Police obtained a statement from the complainant and presented him with a photo line up in which he quickly identified one of the arrested males as the individual who was in his kitchen earlier in the morning.

Further investigation revealed that the two males had gotten into a fight at a friend’s residence when they were removed from that residence as well. Police had also been called to this residence. Yes, it’s convoluted as police work often is, but still under investigation.

Impaired driving and assault near Juniper Heights

At approximately 7:50 p.m. on June 1, Columbia Valley RCMP were driving northbound on Highway 93/95 near Juniper Heights when they came upon a vehicle that was in the ditch on the west side of the road.

Police stopped to see what was going on. A male immediately came forward and stated to police that he was sorry and should not have been driving as he was impaired. The male was driving a white Cadillac CTS. Police directed the male to stand on the side of the road while the scene was assessed. A passenger was noted still in the vehicle, very agitated and panicked. The passenger was attended to by passersby who had not witnessed the accident.

Based on the male’s admission of being too impaired to drive, he was placed under arrest for impaired driving, was read the Alcohol Screening Device demand and provided a sample, which resulted in a ‘fail’. A second sample was declined. The male appeared emotionally upset and agitated, could not find his wallet or provide a driver’s licence or valid vehicle registration. Police later determined that the passenger had been assaulted by the male driver.

Police obtained a video statement from the driver in which he admitted to drinking and driving, but denied assaulting his passenger. Charges of impaired driving and assault have been laid upon the driver. He was also issued a ticket for ‘Fail to produce DL and registration’ plus fail to keep right.

Excessive speed cause of KNP crash

On Monday June 3, Banff RCMP was provided vague details of a motor vehicle incident on Hwy 93 south of Hwy 1. There is no cell service in the area as the complainant had to leave the scene to contact police. Banff members attended the scene, which was five kilometres south of Highway 1 and determined it to be in the Columbia Valley Detachment area. Columbia Valley members had been dispatched as well. Two victims of this incident were determined to have minor non-life threatening injuries; however, they were transported to Banff Hospital for further diagnosis and observation.

Traffic analysts were also dispatched to the scene and the highway was closed for several hours due to the significant amount of property damage and the debris field. Preliminary investigation revealed that in a three lane portion of Highway 93, a southbound Ford F250 towing a fifth wheel encountered a black ’07 Ford Edge coming around a corner as it passed a northbound orange Dodge Ram 1500 which was in the slow lane.

The Ford Edge was estimated to be traveling at 150 km/h and due to its speed it was unable to negotiate a right hand corner and drifted into the oncoming lane forcing the F250 to take evasive action by going into the northbound lane. The Edge clipped the F250 on it’s passenger side and then struck the fifth wheel. This caused the F250 and fifth wheel to spin with the fifth wheel toppling over onto the Dodge Ram, which at this point was behind the Edge. Once the vehicles came to rest it was determined that there were only minor injuries to the driver of the Edge and the passenger of the Dodge Ram.

Banff members assisted Columbia Valley officers by obtaining photos and attending to the Banff Mineral Springs Hospital and obtaining statements.

Alcohol has been ruled out as a contributing factor and it is believed that excessive speed is the major contributing factor.

Charges of Dangerous Driving Causing Bodily – Sec. 249(3) of the Criminal Code – are pending against the driver of the Ford Edge as several witnesses have come forward indicating that his driving was erratic and his speeds excessive. Police continue to investigate.

Human remains call turns out to be bear

On June 3, Columbia Valley RCMP was dispatched to the 2000 block of Ruault Road for a call concerning found human remains.

The female complainant advised members upon their arrival on scene that her dog had returned home with what she believed to be a human hand and directed investigators to the grisly find. Upon close examination of the appendage police were able to quickly identify it as that of a bear’s paw (sample photo above) due to the differing bone structure (although similar), its shape, size and remaining hair. This is not an uncommon complaint as police are often called upon to differentiate between human and animal remains, and thankfully have many resources to call upon to ensure a correct identification.

Cpl. G.D. Simpson,

Columbia Valley RCMP

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