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Columbia Valley RCMP Report
By Sgt. Bob Vatamaniuck
During the past week Columbia Valley RCMP responded to about 80 calls for service. The following is a small sample of those calls:
Breath refusal equals same consequence
On May 24, at about 2 a.m., Columbia Valley RCMP members were on patrol when they took note of a truck driving in an aggressive manner through Invermere. RCMP subsequently pulled the truck over to address the aggressive driving.
The 29-year-old driver immediately displayed signs of alcohol impairment and was demanded to provide samples of his breath into an approved device; he refused. After a lengthy explanation of the process by the RCMP, the driver still refused to provide a breath sample. This failure to provide a breath sample carries the same consequence of a “FAIL” reading and subsequently the driver was served a 90-day prohibition on his ability to operate a motor vehicle and his vehicle was seized for 30 days.
Drunk husband delivered home to waiting wife
During the early morning hours of May 27 Columbia Valley RCMP received a report of a heavily intoxicated male in downtown Invermere. When the complainant attempted to speak with the drunk male he could not understand what the intoxicated male was saying.
RCMP attended to find the male asleep in the tall grass behind a house on 6th Avenue. The officer picked up the male and escorted him to the police car so his address and state of health could be determined. Through his slurred speech the male was able to provide a phone number for his wife. RCMP took the opportunity to contact the man’s wife who in turn told the officer their address. The RCMP constable used discretion to drive the male home, which was only two blocks away; his wife met them at the door and quickly demanded her husband go straight to bed.
Vehicle strikes building in Radium
On May 27, at about 11:30 a.m., Columbia Valley RCMP responded to report of a motor vehicle incident in Radium Hot Springs where a vehicle had struck a building. Members attended and noted a Dodge Ram that was being driven by older gentleman had jumped the curb and struck the front of ‘Radium Bighorn Gift & Souvenir’ located on Main Street. There were no reported injuries inside or outside the building.
The driver advised that his right ankle has had surgery and his foot slipped off the brake pedal and onto the accelerator when pulling into the parking stall. Police completed the necessary reports and drove the gentleman home.
What the tree did remains to be seen
On May 28, at about 8:45 p.m., Columbia Valley RCMP received a report of a possible hit and run car collision involving a pedestrian in downtown Invermere, near the bars. The complainant advised that a disoriented male with a lump on his head was in front of the Copper City Saloon. RCMP immediately responded to the report and once on scene located the male who had a severe abrasion on the right side of his face. Members quickly determined through speaking with witnesses in the area that the male, who was heavily intoxicated, had not been hit by a vehicle but instead had purposely hit his face against a tree. The RCMP sought some medical help for the young man then once released from medical care was arrested for ‘Being Drunk in a Public Place’ and transported to Columbia Valley RCMP cells (pictured above) where he was held until he was sober so there would be no further injuries or disturbances.
CRA scammers persist in valley
There has been an increasing number of community members calling or stopping by the detachment to advise they were called by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) with some threatening language and even threatening the receiver with arrest if they don’t call one of their investigators in order to pay some kind of fine or back taxes.
I’d like to take this opportunity to advise that these are phone scams and are preying on the good nature and law abiding people of Columbia Valley. The CRA will not threaten arrest and will not demand immediate payment. If you received a call like this and don’t know what to do, please call the CRA directly or call us here at the detachment and we can answer your questions. DO NOT send money to these criminals.
– Sgt. Bob Vatamaniuck is commander of the Columbia Valley RCMP Detachment
