By Sgt. Bob Vatamaniuck

This week Columbia Valley RCMP responded to about 45 calls for service; last year that number was about 55. The following is a summary of a couple of the more interesting calls.

Hit and run in Radium

On Tuesday, November 6 at about 2 p.m. Columbia Valley RCMP received a report of a hit and run in the Village of Radium Hot Springs. A vehicle owner attended the detachment to advise that her vehicle had been struck by another vehicle while it had been parked in a lot next to the Horsethief Pub on November 4 between midnight and noon. Damage was sustained on the driver’s door and suggests that a larger black vehicle caused it. If anyone witnessed this incident they are asked to call the detachment.

Impaired charge follows disturbance check

During the morning hours of November 10, RCMP was conducting a disturbance investigation when they located one of the participants in Radium Hot Springs.  The male, who had departed the disturbance, was sitting in a running vehicle in a public parking lot when he was approached by police. As police tried to ascertain the circumstances of the previous complaint police noted the male seemed intoxicated and in care and control of a vehicle. When confronted the male claimed he was “drunk” and displayed obvious signs of impairment with odor of liquor on his breath and glossy blood-shot eyes. The male was demanded to provide samples into an approved screening device. He provided samples and each resulted in a “Fail” reading. Consequently, he is prohibited from driving for 90 days and the vehicle was seized for 30 days.

CRA scam still making rounds

Another complaint lodged on November 10 surrounded another Canada Revenue Agency scam.  A 26-year-old male attended the detachment to report that he had received multiple phone calls from an unknown male advising he was a person in authority and there was a warrant for the male’s arrest. Unsure of what to do the victim went to a local merchant and purchased gift cards. Suspecting he may be a victim, he came to the detachment to enquire the possibility that he had been targeted. The young man was assured the real CRA does not use threats or arrest warrants and furthermore, no government agency will ever ask for gift cards in exchange for any kind of payment.

Collision with elk at Fairmont

During the evening hours of November 11 RCMP received a report of a single vehicle collision on Highway 93/95 near Fairmont Hot Springs. The complainant reported that he was travelling at about 100 km/h in his F150 when an elk ran onto the highway and he hit it.  The driver advised that neither he nor his passenger were injured.  Road conditions were good and the weather was clear at the time of the collision.

Impaired backroad driver takes wobbly shot at self defence

On November 11, at about 7 p.m., RCMP was conducting a check-stop for impaired drivers on Forsters Landing Road near Radium Hot Springs. There is enough snow to be snowmobiling up on the trails and knowing this is a popular activity this time of year the police wanted to make sure those returning from the hill were sober and posed no danger to the public.

While at the check-stop, a Ford F350 approached the police; when the RCMP spoke to the driver he reported that he had been snowmobiling but denied consuming any alcohol.  As police spoke further with the male it was noted he smelled of liquor, had red glossy eyes and had an open beer sitting in the console beside him. Once the contradicting evidence was pointed out to the driver he changed his story and then claimed he had two beers. He was asked to provide samples of his breath into an approved screening device.  He agreed and both samples displayed “Fail” readings.

The driver then became very angry claiming he was on a backroad and a Forest Service Road and that police cannot charge impaired drivers on backcountry or Forest Service Roads.

It was explained that no matter where you are, you cannot operate a motor vehicle when impaired.  This includes snowmobiling on a mountainside, operating a motorboat on water or driving a truck on a Forest Service Road; all pose significant risk to the public, the driver and occupants.

– Sgt. Bob Vatamaniuck is commander of the Columbia Valley RCMP Detachment

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