By Sgt. Bob Vatamaniuck

The past week saw the Columbia Valley RCMP Detachment receive about 40 calls for service. The following is a small sample of those calls.

Vehicle fire contained

On January 17, at about 9:30 p.m., Columbia Valley RCMP received a complaint of a possible vehicle fire near Radium Hot Springs. The complainant reported to police that she had just driven her Jeep Grand Cherokee to her camp and while en route she observed small flames underneath the vehicle. She was quickly able to extinguish the flames using a fire extinguisher before the vehicle became fully engulfed. She phoned the Radium Fire Department; however, was advised that she was outside of their area of responsibility. The RCMP attended and met with the vehicle owner to ensure no one was injured and there was no environmental threat as a result of the fire.  By the time the RCMP attended the vehicle flames had been extinguished and damage was contained to the vehicle only.

Rowdy, vandal guest will pay

During the afternoon hours of January 18, RCMP was dispatched to Fairmont Hot Springs for a mischief complaint. The manager of the resort phoned police after a resident of Calgary stayed at the hotel but did not pay for the bar tab. The client then proceeded to smash a TV and write on the hotel door with ink. The investigator determined that the hotel had every right to expense all the damages to the disruptive client’s credit card prior to police intervention. RCMP will follow up as necessary.

Afternoon DUI

On January 21, at about 2:30 p.m., Columbia Valley RCMP was on a routine patrol when they pulled up behind a black GMC Sierra with a plate too dirty to be read. A traffic stop was initiated to remind the driver to clean the licence plate. When the driver was spoken to the RCMP member detected a odor of liquor emanating from within the truck.  Furthermore, the driver admitted to drinking before he got behind the wheel. A roadside screening device was administered and two samples resulted in a “FAIL”. The driver lost his driver’s licence for 90 days and the vehicle was seized for 30 days.

Daytime B&E in Invermere

During the afternoon of January 23, Columbia Valley RCMP received a report of a break and enter within the town of Invermere.  Investigators attended the residence and determined that someone had broken into the house between the hours of 9:30 a.m. and 2:45 p.m.  When the homeowner returned home earlier in the day they noticed muddy foot prints on the floor and small things around the house rummaged through. Missing from the house was some cash, candy, liquor and cigarettes. The police are working on some evidence left at the scene but are also encouraging anyone with any information to call the detachment or Crimestoppers.

A few of the other statistics from the week include: five abandoned 911 calls; three false alarms; four Impaired Operation of a Motor Vehicle Investigations; three Motor Vehicle Accidents.

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