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Local woman, RCMP honoured
Teamwork was central in national awards being presented to a Cranbrook teenager and the Cranbrook RCMP Detachment May 25.
Late January 28, RCMP officers responded to an alarm at Kootenay Pawn Brokers. On arrival it was determined that the business had been victimized by a break and enter.
A quick scan of store video surveillance footage showcased individuals casing the store earlier that day and the hunt was on, for suspects and a suspect vehicle.
However, it was the storeowner’s daughter, Kyleene Woodward, 24, who gave police their big break, identifying the suspect vehicle parked at a Cranbrook strip motel. Information was passed on to police and they attended to the motel. Two suspects were arrested at the scene but two others fled.
This resulted in a “cat and mouse” chase, described Cranbrook Detachment NCO S/Sgt. Dave Dubnyk, including high-speed getaways.
Eventually, the two other suspects were captured, with the final one nabbed in the Gold Creek area with the assistance of the Police Dog Service and the use of a helicopter. Go here for the original story.
Dubnyk said it was a combined effort of the entire detachment, a CP Rail officer and the public, as social media was utilized to help generate calls to the police.
“It was a really good investigation,” Dubnyk said, noting the busts broke up an organized crime ring trying to take root in Cranbrook.
“It interrupted what was bound to be a real crime spree” in Western Canada and the East Kootenay, he said.
The Jewellers Vigilance Alliance Canada Inc. (JVC), a non-profit association that works to advance ethical practices and loss prevention within the retail/jewellery industries.
JVC representative John Lamont was on hand to present the Cranbrook RCMP Detachment with the Police Appreciation Award. It is only the second police service in Western Canada to earn it, along with the Vancouver Major Crime Unit, Lamont said.
Lamont explained that a new award was established this year, the Civilian Appreciation Award, bestowed on a person(s) who has gone above and beyond in their assistance to the police.
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