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Columbia Valley RCMP Report
By Sgt. Bob Vatamaniuck
During the past week Columbia Valley RCMP responded to about 75 calls for service. The following is a small but interesting sample of those calls.
Oh yeah, the GPS!
During the afternoon hours of June 21, RCMP received a complaint of two lost hikers near the Panorama Resort. An employee with Panorama Safety Services reported that there was a lost couple who contacted the resort by cell phone looking for directions and describing that they were lost in the woods.
RCMP was able to telephone the couple who in turn advised that they did not require assistance from police after all. They replied that they were lost at first but then the male remembered he packed a GPS unit and is now utilizing it; they were able to provide GPS coordinates of their location to the police and Panorama staff.
Once identified on a map, it was quickly learned that the couple was only about two km away from the resort. The couple was not injured and navigated their way back to the resort where they would have plenty of dinner conversation.
Combative, injured and drunk
On June 21, at about 7 p.m., Columbia Valley RCMP received a call to assist BC Ambulance members at a residence in Invermere as they were dealing with a 25-year-old male who had hit his head and was becoming combative.
RCMP members responded immediately to the report and once on scene met with Emergency Health Services members who could not offer any medical assistance to the assaultive man. The male was known to RCMP so the members attended a different known address in an effort to track down the male.
His neighbours advised that the male was recently seen and had just departed. As the RCMP continued the search they were soon informed that the male had been driven to the hospital but would not go inside for medical help.
Members attended the Invermere and District Hospital and located the male being pinned down in the back of a pickup truck. His friends told police that the male had consumed a lot of liquor and was stumbling when he fell down and cut his forehead and possibly broke his nose. He was still combative so police apprehended him for his safety, as well as others around him, and escorted into the hospital. Once inside, medical professionals were able to treat his injuries.
Wise woman catches onto scam attempt
On June 22, at about 8:30 a.m., a resident of Invermere attended the Columbia Valley Detachment to report some fraudulent activity. She went on to tell police that she responded to an ad in the Columbia Valley Pioneer newspaper that was requesting assistance from a caregiver for their mother suffering from dementia. Not long after she made contact with the email address noted in the ad, she received a cheque for $3250.07 from the person she was communicating with. That person then wanted her to go and deposit the cheque into a different account, then send confirmation of the deposit.
Her fraud alarm bells immediately started ringing, as this is a well-known fraud scheme. She did not comply and came to police instead. These types of frauds are becoming more common; and there are new ones being invented every day. If you don’t know whether or not you are being targeted, call the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre [1-888-495-8501] or give us a call.
No injuries in Sunday rear-ender
On June 25, at about 6 p.m., Columbia Valley RCMP responded to a motor vehicle incident at the intersection of Panorama Drive and Laurier Street in Invermere.
Whilst going through the right turn yield lane, a male driver was slowed and almost stopped when, during his wait to merge onto Laurier Street, another car ran into the back of his vehicle. The responsible driver admittedly stated that he was not paying attention and rear-ended the vehicle in front of him at a low speed. No injuries were suffered and both cars were able to drive away without issue. The responsible driver was issued a violation ticket for Follow Too Closely.
Some other interesting statistics from the week witnessed six abandoned 911 calls, 15 alarms, six traffic complaints and three complaints surrounding impaired drivers. A good reminder, everyone please have a safe long weekend and if you are drinking, please don’t drive.
Lead image: Sgt. Bob Vatamaniuck and Columbia Valley RCMP in last weekend’s Radium Days Parade. Ian Cobb/e-KNOW photo
– Sgt. Bob Vatamaniuck is commander of the Columbia Valley RCMP Detachment
