By Sgt. Bob Vatamaniuck

The past week Columbia Valley RCMP responded to about 50 calls for service. The following is a small sample of those calls.

Cabin fire in Windermere

During the afternoon of December 5, RCMP was dispatched to assist the fire service at a structure fire in Windermere. Windermere Fire Rescue advised that they were attending to a cottage that was on fire and they were unsure if there was anyone inside. RCMP immediately attended and met with Fire and Ambulance. They advised that there did not appear to be anyone home and they extinguished the fire. The initial investigation revealed the fire was likely caused by the downstairs wood stove. Nesting materials were located resting against the chimney pipe which likely ignited and caused the cottage to burn. The roof had many acorns, sticks and other ignitable materials that had been stored by a nesting animal.  Although the investigation is continuing it does not to be a deliberate arson.

Heli-plex break-in

During the late evening hours of December 9, Columbia Valley RCMP received a call for a possible break and enter in progress at the RK Heli-plex at Panorama Mountain Resort. The caller reported that they had the individual with them and he had kicked in a window. Panorama security attended the call to secure the scene and detain the culprit until RCMP arrived. Once on scene the RCMP spoke with security who explained there was a window broken in the rear of the building and pointed out the cooperative male was the one who was witnessed breaking it. RCMP arrested the male for mischief under $5,000. It was obvious to the police that the subject was intoxicated by alcohol. Eventually the matter was handled without the laying of any charges as the culprit apologized for his actions and paid for the window to be replaced.

Minor injuries in KNP crash

On December 10, at about 2:30 p.m., Columbia Valley RCMP was dispatched to a single vehicle rollover in Kootenay National Park on Highway 93 near Kootenay Crossing. A passerby advised that they drove by a gold coloured SUV on its side and the occupants outside of the vehicle gave her a thumbs-up, indicating they were okay. While the RCMP were on their way to offer assistance and conduct their investigation, dispatch received a call from a motorist who had picked up the three occupants and was driving them to Invermere & District Hospital with minor injuries. Police continued to the scene and confirmed no further injuries or accidents in the area as there were multiple reports of vehicles that had slid off the highway. When the driver was spoken to at the hospital they told police that they were coming around a sharp corner where the vehicle started slipping on ice; the driver was unable to regain control and the vehicle slid off the pavement and then flipped onto its side. All the occupants were slightly injured as a result of the incident.

U-turn hit and run

On December 10, at about 7 p.m., Columbia Valley RCMP was dispatched to an address on 8th Avenue, Invermere, for a hit and run. The complainant called police after someone hit a 2006 Hyundai Sonata outside the home. The complainant saw a pickup truck perform a u-turn, and struck the left/front of the Sonata. The witness believed that the truck was a Toyota pickup, extended cab or double cab, light grey in colour, with a canopy, that was level with the roof of the truck, the same colour. It appeared no serious damage done to the Sonata and unknown damage to the truck. If anyone has any information about this, or knows who is responsible, they are asked to call the detachment.

Morning crash with elk near Canal Flats

On December 12, at about 7 a.m., Columbia Valley RCMP responded to a single car versus elk motor vehicle incident just north of Canal Flats. Police and EHS attended. The lone occupant of the car was slightly injured from the glass of the broken windshield but other than that the driver was uninjured. The elk did not survive the collision.

The past week saw the following statistics:

One abandoned 911 call; four calls to False Building Alarms; nine Motor Vehicle Incidents that included three Impaired Operation.

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