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Columbia Valley RCMP Report
By Sgt. Bob Vatamaniuck
During the past week members of the Columbia Valley RCMP received about 65 calls for service. Here are only a few to mention.
Jewelry stolen from storage units
On September 28, Columbia Valley RCMP officers were dispatched to a break and enter at Newhouse Multi-Storage in Invermere. The targeted storage units were internal ones where someone gained entry by using an older code. Stolen from the units was some jewelry. If anyone has any information about this crime they are asked to call their local RCMP detachment or Crimestoppers.
Disruptive male arrested for assault and mischief
During the very early morning hours of September 29 RCMP received a complaint of a disturbance in Canal Flats. The complainant reported that while hosting some friends at party one of her friends got intoxicated and started threatening other partygoers; he then became assaultive and broke two windows at the residence. At some point during the fight, bear spray was used contaminating the entire area. RCMP members attended the house and the disruptive male fled from the party on foot. It did not take long for RCMP to discover the intoxicated male trying to hide underneath a nearby parked car. The disruptive male was arrested for assault and mischief and given medical aid for symptoms related to the bear spray. He was then was brought to the Columbia Valley Detachment where he was able to sleep off the rest of the evening and released for court in the near future.
Bar battlers busted
On September 30, RCMP members were near Copper City Saloon when they were alerted to a fight that had broken out on the patio. The RCMP immediately attended and found bouncers struggling to contain multiple people. The two males who instigated the fight were identified to the RCMP and subsequently both were arrested for assault. Both males refused to provide their identities to the RCMP and were consequently incarcerated. Once in cells and given some time to cool off one of the males eventually provided his name while the other male remained defiant; his identity was eventually discovered. He will be facing an assault charge as well as an Obstruction of Justice charge. The male that was cooperative is facing an assault charge; court is scheduled for December.
Sheep dodge results in crash
During the morning of October 1, RCMP received information of a single vehicle collision on Highway 93 near Radium Hot Springs. The driver reported that he had been travelling toward Radium Hot Springs in a SUV when a single bighorn sheep walked onto the roadway and in front of his vehicle. The driver quickly reacted to avoid a collision with the animal but lost control of the vehicle and hit a cement barricade. The vehicle then struck a wooden fence before coming to rest on the sidewalk near a steep embankment. The sheep was not struck and continued travelling up the road oblivious to his near death experience.
Advice for those who pocket dial 911
The past week saw police attend to five abandoned 911 complaints (pocket dialling 911). Each of these takes significant time and resources for the police to locate the cell phone and the person who accidentally dialed 911. The police have a duty to follow up on any 911 calls to ensure the safety and well-being of the caller. We are reminding the community to please take care with your phone and if it accidentally dials 911, that’s ok, accidents happen, but please answer the phone when we call back to let us know you’re okay. Some people don’t answer when they see the police are calling because they are afraid of being in trouble. Let me assure you, if you pocket dialed 911 by accident, you’re not. Otherwise we have to drop whatever we are doing to make sure you’re safe.
