Columbia Valley RCMP Report

At 4 p.m. on July 26, Columbia Valley RCMP Detachment received a report of a stolen passport and birth certificate that was left near the photo copy machine at Dave’s Book Bar.

Mine Road pass-out jailed

Fifteen minutes later, the Detachment received a complaint of a male passed out at the 8 km mark on Westroc Mine Road in Windermere. On attendance officers found a highly intoxicated male passed out. An ambulance was called to assist. The male did eventually respond to the officers on scene and determined that an ambulance was not required. The 24-year-old male from Crescent Valley was lodged in cells for being drunk in public.

Canyon Campground B&E and theft

At 9:30 a.m. on July 27, Columbia Valley Detachment received a complaint of break and enter and theft from Canyon Campground in the 5000 block of Sinclair Crescent in Radium Hot Springs. Cash was stolen from an open till. There were no signs of forced entry. Anyone with information on this theft is requested to contact the Detachment.

MVA on Whiteswan Road

Detachment members responded to a complaint of a single vehicle accident at 10:51 p.m. on July 27. A passing driver drove two injured parties to Canal Flats and contacted police and ambulance. The accident happened near the 14 km mark of Whiteswan Forest Service Road, south east of Canal Flats in the Kimberley RCMP Detachment area. A 22-year-old driver from Calgary and his 20-year-old passenger were taken to the Invermere & District Hospital with minor injuries. The driver was operating a 2007 Pontiac when he went off the road. The driver was charged with Drive Without Due Care and Attention under the Motor Vehicle Act.

Warning for Alberta driver

At 11:30 p.m. on July 27, a Columbia Valley Detachment Member was observing traffic in the area of 7th Avenue and 9th Street in Invermere when he observed a Grand Prix fail to stop at a stop sign. The 24-year-old driver from Alberta admitted to consuming liquor. An ASD demand was read at which time the driver blew a warning. The driver’s licence was suspended for three days.

Driver fortunate in KNP crash

At 2:09 p.m. on July 29, Columbia Valley Detachment responded to a single vehicle accident on Highway 93 near the B.C./Alberta border in Kootenay National Park. A 20-year-old driver was operating a 2013 Ford pickup when he drove off the road and into the ditch. There were no injuries to the driver, who had completed a night shift and admitted to falling asleep. The driver was charged with Drive Without Due Care and Attention under the Motor Vehicle Act. Very fortunate with the final outcome; we want you home safe.

Bikes stolen in Invermere

At 5:43 p.m. on July 28, the detachment received a complaint of theft of two bikes in the 500 block of 13th Street in Invermere. The bikes are described as a gray Kona Shred and white Brody. Contact the detachment if you have any information in regard to this theft.

Vehicle robbed of electronics

At 8:44 p.m. on July 28, two iPhones and a laptop were stolen from a vehicle parked near the Old Coach Trail in Radium Hot Springs. A window to the vehicle was smashed. A reminder to keep all valuables out of sight.

Mercedes Benz scratched in Fairmont

At 11:30 a.m. on July 29 the detachment received a complaint of mischief to a 2008 Mercedes Benz parked in the Fairmont Hot Springs Resort parking lot. The vehicle was scratched along the side.

Bleed for the cause

If you put in the number of years I’ve put into this career, you would eventually bleed. This event also explains why the younger members at the detachment prefer I stay off the road.

On this particular day I had custody of our dog, Taz. Every now and then if I know I won’t be able to get home to let her out I will take her to work for a couple of hours.

We were on the lookout for a particular vehicle and it so happened a similar vehicle drove past me. I turned and caught up to the vehicle and pulled it over. Before I got out of the car I knew this was not the vehicle we were looking for. It happened to be a gentleman from Canal Flats.

As I opened the door, Taz bolted from the car onto the busy highway. I can get the wife’s car impounded and put up with the consequences, but to be responsible for killing the dog – not going to happen.

I quickly jumped out, bent down to grab her and in doing so banged my forehead on the partially opened door; hit it hard enough that I knew by the time I walked over to the car and stopped I would be bleeding.

Can’t keep the driver in suspense while I try to provide first aid to myself. Sure enough the driver informs me that I’m bleeding and offered me a Band-aid. I accepted his generous offer and allowed him to proceed. Could have used stitches but manned up and did a butterfly. The scar is there but my explanation for the scar to the kids is more heroic. I explain I saved a life. Just don’t tell them it was my life I saved by grabbing the dog.

S/Sgt. Marko Shehovac,

Columbia Valley RCMP Detachment

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