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RCMP busy over long weekend
Columbia Valley RCMP Report
The Columbia Valley RCMP Detachment responded to 73 calls for service over this past August long weekend. A few of the more noteworthy calls are highlighted below:
Search on for stolen truck
At 8 a.m. on August 3, a local male attended the detachment to report his work truck stolen. The complainant hand not used the truck since January because the heater wasn’t working. It could possibly have been taken over the weekend but he wasn’t sure. The keys were in the vehicle as the complainant and his son had been working on the vehicle recently. Unsure how much gas in vehicle; two tires were almost flat. File number provided. The vehicle does not have valid insurance. The vehicle is a 1999 Ford F250 pickup, green in colour, bearing BC licence plate 9686EW. Police are requesting anyone with information regarding this theft to contact them or Crimestoppers.
Donations stolen; caught on camera
Volunteers of the local thrift store attended the detachment at 2:48 p.m. on August 3 to report a theft from the donations left behind at the business. On July 31, at 10:23 p.m., surveillance footage shows two females going through the donations and taking several items. The females left in a red Chrysler Lebaron with a black top, the plate clearly visible in the surveillance tape. Police continue to investigate and are asking anyone with any further information to contact them.
Tire comes off causing accident at Fairmont
On August 3, at 4:24 p.m. Columbia Valley RCMP responded to a complaint of a two-vehicle collision that occurred .half a kilometre north of the Hoodoos Bridge on Hwy 93 / 95 at Fairmont Hot Springs. A local male was driving north on Hwy 93/95 in his 1985 Ford Bronco, heading to Fairmont to drop his son off at work when his left front wheel came off at highway speed upon entering the corner before the bridge to the south. The tire and rim crossed the lane and hit a south bound 2006 Pontiac Pursuit damaging the headlights, grill, hood and radiator. The female driver of the Pursuit reported some whiplash. The male driver had already secured his spare tire and rim on his truck advising he takes responsibility.
Tourist’s driving error causes accident in park
On August 3, at 3:35 p.m., a motor vehicle accident was reported on Highway 93, 15 km north of Radium Hot Springs. Columbia Valley RCMP attended and learned that a 50-year-old male from Germany was parked on the shoulder of the west bound lane in a Ford Flex. There was a pull off across the highway and this male made a left hand turn without checking for oncoming traffic, putting himself perpendicular with the highway. A 27-year-old Alberta man was driving a Pontiac four door vehicle westbound and did not have enough time to stop. The Albertan applied the brakes but collided with the driver side of the Flex vehicle. Both vehicles ended up blocking both East bound lanes. The male from Germany and his son who were in the Flex were not injured. The Alberta driver was not injured; however, his female passenger sustained some soreness and bruising from the seat belt. The male from Germany admitted to being at fault and was charged under the Motor Vehicle Act for failing to yield after being stopped.
Shots fired investigated in Edgewater
At 5:20 p.m. August 3, several residents of Edgewater contacted police to report possible shots fired around the 4800 block of Riverview Drive. They reported hearing gun shots over the last couple of days, and thought it might be an automatic weapon or someone skeet shooting. Police were also informed that fireworks have been heard the past few days from the same area. Columbia Valley RCMP attended to the resort and several witnesses spoken with informed police that the Resort is strict with noise and that no fireworks had been observed or heard. Some witnesses indicated that noise was heard along the dirt road by the pond that sounded like kids fooling around with a toy gun. Police made further patrols but did not hear or see anything further.
Outstanding warrants solved following Panorama MVI
At 2:42 a.m. on August 4, Columbia Valley RCMP was dispatched to the T‑bar Pub in Panorama for a complaint of a motor vehicle accident involving a possible impaired driver. Checks of the registered owner of the vehicle involved indicated that there were outstanding warrants out of Clearwater, along with several out of Alberta. The 33-year-old Alberta owner was located and arrested with some initial issues surrounding his identity; however, he eventually decided to cooperate and was returned to Invermere Detachment cells where he was held pending a bail hearing.
Unlocked vehicles plundered in Windermere
At 9:36 a.m. on August 4 several complaints were received from Windermere residents reporting thefts from their vehicles, having occurred sometime overnight. They advised that their vehicles had been entered and several items stolen – from credit cards and cash to expensive electronic devices such as laptops and cameras. In every case reported the vehicles had been left unlocked! Police are reminding vehicle owners to lock their vehicles. This should be the first and simplest step taken to deter theft.
Vehicle severely oiled in Radium
At 3:34 p.m., a male complainant from the 4900 block of Forsters Landing Rd, Radium Hot Springs reported having a 4.5 L jug of used oil poured over his car while parked in his parking garage stall. The owner immediately took the car to the car wash and washed it as well as picked up and moved the jug of oil. Several other people handled the jug of oil as well. There are no suspects and no surveillance. No obvious damage since the vehicle was cleaned immediately. Building manager advised and clean up of the oil was done by the vehicle owner. Anyone with any information on this mischief complaint is asked to contact the local detachment.
Female bike rider crashes in KNP
At approximately 4:21 p.m. a single motorcycle MVA with a lone female rider from Alberta was reported north of Kootenay Crossing on Hwy. 93 in Kootenay National Park. The female rider was traveling southbound at approximately 100 km/h approaching a curve and went into a slight speed “wobble” causing her to travel straight off the highway into the ditch area, in which she crashed. She sustained moderate facial injuries including abrasions and lacerations. She was transported to the Invermere Hospital via EHS for treatment. She stated she is a new rider and has gained basic riding experience for about three years. The motorcycle sustained damage to the front fairing and left side.
Canal Flats crash under investigation
At 6:46 a.m. on August 5 a Canal Flats resident called the RCMP to report a motor vehicle accident at her residence. She said that she heard a loud noise at 1 a.m. and at 6:46 she left her house and found a blue Pontiac car crashed through her fence. Police attended and learned that the vehicle belonged to an 18-year-old Windermere male. Police found the registered owner’s cell phone in the passenger seat of the vehicle along with the keys in the ignition. The vehicle was towed from the scene.
The vehicle owner was asked to attend the detachment and provide a statement. He did so and told police that he went to a party and was drinking heavily. He admitted to driving intoxicated away from the party to the elementary school. He went for a walk and fell asleep in the park. When he woke up his vehicle was gone. He advised that he has multiple witnesses to verify that his vehicle was missing.
The male was charged under the motor vehicle act due to his admission of driving while intoxicated under section 144 (1)(A) – Drive without due care and attention.
Possible suspicious activity reported and investigated
At 4:01 p.m. on August 5 a female visiting from Kelowna called the RCMP to report that a man in a light blue semi truck with ‘R105’ on the back, with a B.C. marker of 4GE4577 just tried to lure two 10-year-old girls into his truck. The woman stopped and the man left east bound on Highway 93. The woman gave the girls a lift to their residence where their mother was. The woman provided no address for the residence, and no details of the girls except their age. The plate provided by the woman was not a valid plate number due to the number of characters. A request was forwarded to Southern Alberta detachments to be on the lookout for the described semi truck.
Attempted vehicle theft
At 4:59 p.m. on August 5 a local 24-year-old male phoned the RCMP to report that sometime overnight someone opened his vehicle by reaching in an opened window. Once inside the person(s) tampered with the ignition and attempted to steal the vehicle. Nothing was stolen from within and the vehicle was not moved. Investigation is ongoing.
Suspended driver tabbed near Juniper Heights
While traveling southbound on Hwy 93/95, near Juniper Heights, police were conducting moving radar patrols for northbound traffic on Hwy 93/95 at 9:10 p.m. on August 5. Police detected a van traveling at 116 km/h in 90 km/h zone. A traffic stop was conducted and the driver was identified as a 34-year-old Prince George male who immediately indicated he did not have a valid driver’s license. He was operating a 2002 Dodge Caravan. Computer checks indicated this driver to be suspended and to serve a Notice of suspension under s. 233(7) Motor Vehicle Act. A Suspension Notice was issued along with a violation ticket for No Driver’s License under the Motor Vehicle Act. The male provided government identification to prove his identity and his spouse took over driving duties.
Calgarian’s golf clubs pinched from car in Invermere
At 2:58 p.m. on August 6, a 65-year-old Calgary male attended the RCMP detachment to report that his golf bag and clubs were stolen from the underground parking at Windermere Point Condos in Invermere. Stolen were a Taylor Made golf bag as well as a full set of Taylor Made golf clubs and a Callaway driver. Total value is approximately $2,500. No suspects or video however the investigation is ongoing. Police are seeking the assistance of the public who may have information on this theft.
Cranbrook woman charged in Fairmont hit and run
At 3:27 a.m. on August 7 a Fairmont man reported a non‑injury hit and run in the 5000 block of Wills Rd, Fairmont Hot Springs, involving three vehicles in total. A blue 2002 Chevrolet pickup registered to a 20-year-old Cranbrook woman, traveled eastbound on Wills Rd. onto northbound Hot Springs Rd. She was exceeding the speed limit and lost control while taking the left turn striking a utility pole and a parked Oldsmobile, which in turn struck the vehicle parked next to the Oldsmobile, a 2000 Toyota Camry. Registered owners of the latter two vehicles stated the driver had fled. However, the female registered owner returned and fled again prior to police arrival. The Chevrolet was covered in fresh mud including the interior. Both the Chevrolet and Oldsmobile were towed. The Cranbrook female attended the detachment to report the incident during regular business hours. She was issued violation tickets under the Motor Vehicle Act for No insurance and speed relative to conditions.
In addition to these calls there were many more complaints police attended to involving alcohol related offences, fights/assaults, noisy parties, erratic and/or impaired drivers, disturbances, mischief and vandalism. Simply too many to list in detail upon these pages!
Cpl. Grant Simpson
Columbia Valley RCMP
