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Columbia Valley RCMP Report
By Sgt. Bob Vatamaniuck
The past week witnessed Columbia Valley RCMP received about 45 calls for service; the following is a sample of those calls.
Impaired driver snagged at A&W
On April 12 at about 10 p.m. Columbia Valley RCMP were dispatched to Third Avenue in Invermere for a report of a possible impaired driver. The complainant phoned police after seeing a female driver high centre her small car on a curb. Police immediately attended and upon arrival observed a small Nissan car high centred over a curb in the A & W parking lot.
A female was still in the driver’s seat while the front left tire was still spinning. It took no time for the responding officer to note signs of alcohol impairment and subsequently detained the driver for impaired driving. The driver provided two samples of her breath into the alcohol-screening device, which both registered ‘FAIL’ readings. Consequently her driver’s licence was seized and she was served a 90-Day Immediate Roadside Prohibition and her vehicle was impounded for 30 days.
Report of drivers passing stopped school bus
During the morning hours of April 13 Columbia Valley RCMP received a report from a concerned citizen that she had observed two vehicles pass a school bus with its lights flashing that had stopped to pick up children on Highway 93/95 just north of Invermere. It was promised that patrols will increase and if the offenders are seen passing the school bus when the red lights are flashing a Violation Ticket for “Failure to Stop for School Bus” will be issued with a $368 fine.
Failure to stop results in impaired charge
During the evening hours of April 13 Columbia Valley RCMP was conducting stop sign enforcement in Radium Hot Springs when an officer noted a vehicle fail to come to a complete stop at a stop sign. Members conducted a subsequent traffic stop. It was immediately noted that the cab of the vehicle had strong odour of liquor emanating from it. When asked if the occupants had been drinking the passenger advised that she had been drinking wine earlier and the couple was on their way to go to the market. The driver replied that he had only consumed one beer.
The officer asked to speak to the driver outside of the vehicle away from the cab. While chatting with the driver the RCMP continued to note an odour of alcohol coming from the driver and also noted that he had glossy eyes. In further conversation the driver admitted that along with his beer, he also drank some wine. The RCMP formed the reasonable suspicion that he was impaired and demanded that his provide samples of his breath into the screening device. Two samples were provided by the driver, both of which resulted in a FAIL reading. Consequently the vehicle was seized for 30 days and his Alberta driver’s licence was seized for 90 days under the provisions of the Immediate Roadside Prohibition legislation. The driver was also issued a written warning for failing to obey the stop sign.
Ford bursts into flames
On April 17, at about 1 p.m., Columbia Valley RCMP was dispatched to a report of a truck fire at the four way stop on Arrow Road in Invermere. Police attended and located a black 1979 Ford pick-up with the hood open, Invermere Fire Rescue was already on-scene and there was smoke coming from the engine area. RCMP spoke with the registered owner who reported that the Ford backfired and then a fire started under the hood. The fire was extinguished with minimal damage to the engine. It appeared the air filter and wiring were burned. Not long after a tow truck came towed the Ford and cleared the intersection.
Unique golf bag found near Invermere
Later that afternoon on April 17, Columbia Valley RCMP was dispatched to handle some found property. The complainant found golf bag and some clothing by a steel train bridge near Invermere. RCMP attended to collect the items from the road. The golf bag had some unique embroidery on the side of the bag and this embroidery matched some descriptors of some equipment that was reported stolen on April 5. RCMP is trying to get the equipment back to its rightful owner. If anyone saw the equipment get dumped or someone trying to sell it they are asked to call the detachment.
– Sgt. Bob Vatamaniuck is commander of the Columbia Valley RCMP Detachment.
