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Columbia Valley RCMP Report
By Sgt. Bob Vatamaniuck
During the past week Columbia Valley RCMP responded to about 110 calls for service. The following is an interesting sample of those calls.
Balance restored
On July 27 at about 1 a.m., Columbia Valley RCMP was dispatched to the report of an intoxicated male at the T-bar, Panorama Resort. The complaint surrounded an intoxicated male who did not know where he is staying and was refusing to pay his bar tab. More importantly, when the staff at the resort was trying to help the drunk man he was refusing to give his name. RCMP attended and observed a male matching the description, obviously intoxicated and leaning against a wall inside the bar.
As police spoke to him he was able to provide his name and personal particulars but had extreme difficulty communicating and maintaining his balance without the use of the wall. Furthermore, he was not able to articulate where he was staying or whom he was staying with and he was only able to provide part of his home address outside of the valley. RCMP had seen enough and arrested the male for being intoxicated in a public place and escorted him down the mountain and back into town. He was provided four other walls that were able to help him maintain his balance. He was released the next morning with a $115 violation ticket.
Find car, have nap, say hello to police
During the very early morning hours of July 30, Columbia Valley RCMP received a report of a male who appeared intoxicated and was trying to gain entry into several cars that were parked in a parking lot of a condo complex in Invermere. Police attended a short time later and were alerted to a male sleeping in a nearby car. RCMP confronted the male and could immediately tell he was extremely intoxicated. When asked his intentions, the male replied it was his friend’s vehicle and that he was just going to sleep in the back seat.
Evidence suggested that the drunken male had found the back hatch open and climbed though the vehicle in order to lie down. The male was arrested for being intoxicated in a public place. The owner of the vehicle was contacted and affirmed that he did not know the male nor did he want him in his vehicle. Nothing was taken or damaged and the male was given a safer place to rest.
Injured motorcyclist brought to safety
On July 30 at about 2:30 p.m., Columbia Valley RCMP received a request to locate and assist individuals involved in a single motor vehicle incident 50 km past Panorama Resort in the forest. RCMP learned that a group was up on the mountain on their motorcycles when one of the males hit some trees and was injured.
RCMP immediately requested the assistance of Columbia Valley Search and Rescue, which sent a helicopter to collect them. Search and Rescue brought them out safely with the injured male reportedly suffering serious but non-life threatening injuries.
School roof tent trio feel bad for hangout site selection
During the late evening hours of July 30 some Windermere residents reported that they could see some males on the Windermere Elementary School (pictured above) roof. RCMP members immediately responded to find a tent erected up on the roof. Members requested the males to come down; instead they hid, hoping police would leave. RCMP obtained a ladder and made their way onto the roof locating three males in their early teens.
As it turned out, the youths had set up a small hangout area fully equipped with a tent, television, X-box, and beer. Members brought down the boys’ backpacks and X-box and left it to the parents to gather up the rest of the belongings.
All boys were remorseful and stated they didn’t mean to cause trouble, just wanted a cool hangout spot; all apologized for their actions and using up police resources. The young males were initially arrested for Mischief; however, were eventually released from custody with no charges into the care of their parents who promised they would deal with the matters in their own fashion.
Make sure you have a spotter
We are receiving complaints about several boaters not having a spotter while towing a skier. RCMP wishes to remind all boaters that it is a criminal offence [Section 250(1) Criminal Code] to not have a spotter while towing a person.
