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Columbia Valley RCMP Report
By Cpl. Brent Ayers
This past week, March 25 through to April 1 (April Fools) the Columbia Valley RCMP responded to approximately 36 calls for service. I worked three night shifts over this block and those particular shifts did not contribute to the workload, but we tried… Canal Flats was particularly quiet at 3 a.m. Here are a few examples of some of the files that were dealt with by our officers in the valley.
SD6 reports vehicle passing bus; on-board camera records it
It is a very small world with the sharing of information. For those of you who are living in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia and look forward to the news from the Columbia Valley, this particular incident may be of interest.
On March 26 the Columbia Valley RCMP received a complaint from the Rocky Mountain School District (SD6) in which a bus driver reported that on March 16 at 8 a.m. a grey Jeep Grand Cherokee registered out of Alberta drove by the school bus with the red lights flashing while stopped on Highway 93/95 at Capilo Way.
The vehicle was later seen by the school bus driver who recognized it due to a unique advertisement placard on the back window. The infraction was reported to police through the Operations Manager and the driver of the school bus is willing to attend court along with the on-board camera footage. Cst. Andrew Henneberry, formerly of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, is diligently investigating this incident and has identified the registered owner. A violation ticket could be laid under Section 149 of the Motor Vehicle Act, Province of British Columbia, ‘Fail to stop for school bus.’ This ticket carries a fine amount of $368. Cst. Henneberry, who is well versed in the Motor Vehicle Act despite his junior service, is committed to the safety of our youth who utilize the school buses and the community of the Columbia Valley in general.
With on-board school bus cameras and supplemental evidence provided by witnesses there are no options other than to issue fines for these potentially serious and fatal infractions.
Damage in village after mysterious truck crash
On March 28 at 9:43 p.m., dispatch reported that a red truck crashed into a tree near the park in Radium Hot Springs. No one was injured.
The complainant reported that there was no one inside the truck. It was reported that the registered owner had shown up and that the owner had advised that he had thought the brakes may have failed after the truck had been parked.
Columbia Valley RCMP attended the scene and observed a red 2015 Toyota Tundra, registered out of Manitoba, and that it had stopped, after rolling, in between a tree and picnic table and the Manitoba registered trailer was behind and attached to the truck was crashed into a metal garbage can beside the playground.
No one was around upon police arrival but the complainant, who had spoken with the owner, stated that the transmission may have failed when the truck was parked. The complainant stated that the registered owner did not appear impaired. All checks made on the plates and VINs of the truck and trailer, including the two snowmobiles inside the unlocked trailer came back to the same registered owner.
Police attended the motel and confirmed that the owner was there. However, after banging on the door several times, the owner never answered it. The officer left a card with the motel owner and the truck and trailer were taped off. Photos were taken. It appears as though the Village of Radium Hot Spring’s metal garbage can was destroyed; with the damage to the truck and trailer estimated as over $1,000 in damages.
At this time it is uncertain if the truck had a mechanical problem or if it was human error. This incident is still being looked into. Blocking of trailer wheels is always a safe option.
Hit and run in Eddie parking lot
On March 25 Columbia Valley RCMP received a report of a hit and run, advising that someone had struck the passenger side of their Dodge Caravan, while it had been parked in the back parking lot of Eddie Mountain Memorial Arena on March 24, between 2:30 and 5 p.m. Police did attend and verified the details as they are with the owner of the struck van and the damage was photographed.
The damage consisted of a six foot long by one inch wide white mark on the passenger side and terminated in a tennis ball size dent. At this time there is nothing further known and if anyone has any information regarding this Hit and Run is urged to contact this Detachment quoting file number 2018-605 and or Crime Stoppers.
Broken window may be connected to previous nearby B&E
On March 28, a suspicious occurrence was reported. Around February 19, a 30″ x 18″ window in the back of a complainant’s house, off of the deck, was broken. At the time it was thought it might have happened due to cold weather. After some thought and discussion with the window repair person, they had come to the conclusion that it might have been an attempted break and enter, however nothing was missing from the house.
This incident was reported for information only. The window was not completely broken and as such no one was able to gain entry to the home. The primary police investigator feels that this incident is likely related to a past incident (2018-201 – a break and enter down the street with same means of entry).
Interestingly file 2018-201, which occurred around January 30, led to the arrest of two adults in Radium as reported in an earlier press release in which a large amount of stolen property had been recovered from.
The M.O., Latin phrase for Modus Operandi is approximately translated as method or mode of operating, same method of gaining entry into the houses, which were in the same area. As I always say… Time is always on our side, especially in a small town.
Spring is still not here! We hope everyone had a good Easter Holiday!
– Cpl. Brent Ayers is Acting Detachment Commander of the Columbia Valley RCMP Detachment
