By Sgt. Bob Vatamaniuck

The last week witnessed the Columbia Valley RCMP respond to about 55 calls for service; last year that number was around 65. The following is a summary of a couple of the more interesting calls.

Panorama hit and run solved

On February 12 at about 11 p.m., Columbia Valley RCMP received report of a hit and run at Panorama Mountain Resort.  A security employee advised a resort vehicle was dented and when they investigated found that video footage revealed a group of males trying to physically push the badly parked resort vehicle out of the way as it was blocking their two vehicles.

The video footage was reviewed, and showed several males pushing the van by hand out of the way then leaving in two mid sized SUVs.  However, as they were leaving in the vehicles they scuffed the resort van denting it.  The two vehicles were located at an address not far from the resort with fresh front vehicle damage.  A RCMP officer attended and spoke to the one of the males who advised they were unaware of the dent as they were too focused on trying to get the vehicles from the parking spot.

Warm cell is better than a ditch in February

During the evening hours of February 17 RCMP was dispatched to a report of an intoxicated male who was having trouble maintaining his balance and was falling down in the snow behind buildings near the Dairy Queen.

RCMP attended the location and spoke with a complainant who stated that the male was still in the ditch at the edge of Laurier Ave.  RCMP eventually found the male who replied that he had be drinking for most of the day and had nowhere to go; he stated that he needed someplace safe and warm to stay.  It was suggested he stay at the warm RCMP detachment and the male ultimately agreed.  The 50-year-old was transported to the Columbia Valley detachment and lodged without issue. He was released in the morning when he proved sober.

Truck with sleds towed, not stolen

On February 18, at about 8:30 a.m., Columbia Valley RCMP received a report from a complainant that someone may have stolen his black Chevrolet crew cab truck and trailer containing two Polaris snowmobiles earlier that morning from the condominium parking lot in which he was staying in Radium Hot Springs.  RCMP responded to the report and spoke with the Albertan truck owner who, after making some more phone calls, advised that his truck and trailer hadn’t actually been stolen but towed.  As it turned out, he had unknowingly broken one of the condo rules by parking his truck and trailer in the condo parking lot and it was subsequently removed.

System lesson learned after death of ram

Later on the 18th, Columbia Valley RCMP received a report that a big horned sheep had been struck just south of Radium Hot Springs on Highway 93/95 and needed to be put down.  RCMP responded to the report and determined that the ram, with almost a full curl, was already deceased after being struck by a transport truck.  A male driver who was passing by and waiting on scene requested that he would be able to take the sheep home and obtain the proper permits later. The RCMP officer quickly advised the good intentioned male that he was not allowed to remove the sheep and then apply for a ‘special permit’ later.  It was explained that there are appropriate processes in place to ensure the animal could be studied.  RCMP contacted a BC Conservation Officer who eventually attended scene and removed the ram.

Woman charged accordingly following slow speed head-on with plow

On Sunday, February 18, at about 9 p.m., Columbia Valley RCMP was dispatched to a motor vehicle collision in Fairmont Hot Springs where a car had struck a snow plow head-on at a slow speed.

While police were en route, the officers were also informed of an impaired driver who had just left a bar approximately one km from the collision location.  Considering the time delay coinciding with the time of the collision police began to form the belief that the two events were related.

RCMP attended and observed the collision scene, which suggested a sedan was travelling in the wrong lane before striking the snow plow; this was confirmed by snow plow operator.

The responding RCMP officers quickly located the driver of the car who coincidently met the description of the reported impaired driver.  When police arrived she was already being assessed by medical personnel. The woman was demanded to provide samples of her breath and she ultimately refused; subsequently, she was charged accordingly.

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

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