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Elk Valley RCMP Report
By S/Sgt Svend Nielsen
Refusal to provide breath sample yields same penalty as providing a fail sample
On June 24 at 1:56 a.m., Elk Valley RCMP was on patrol during bar close in Fernie when an officer observed a dark pickup leaving a hang out spot along 2nd Avenue. The officer followed the vehicle for a short distance until he observed the vehicle go through a stop sign at the intersection of 9th Street and 2nd Avenue, at which point the officer completed a roadside stop.
The driver was observed to display signs of intoxication and so a roadside screening device was used to check his level of intoxication, but as is the right of the driver, he refused the test. After several attempts by the officer to have the driver complete the test, the driver continued to refuse and so was served the Immediate Roadside Prohibition for refusing to provide a breath sample into the roadside device, which carries the same penalty as providing a fail sample on the device.
The vehicle was impounded for 30 days and the driver served paperwork for a 90 day licence suspension. This type of investigation is occurring all too frequently here in the Elk Valley and we hope that those citizens who go out for a good time and a few adult beverages use this reminder of the associated penalties to not drink and drive their way to a costly suspension or worse. Our file is concluded.
Quad stolen from Flathead FSR near the Kishinena
On June 25 at 10:11 a.m., Elk Valley RCMP was advised of a stolen quad (pictured above) which was taken the day before from the Flathead FSR near the Kishinena south of Elko. The owner had been travelling on the forest service roads and found his ATV overheating, so he took the key and went down by the creek nearby at 2 p.m. When he returned at 8 p.m., the ATV was gone. The ATV is described as a green 2014 Kawasaki Brute 750 with an Alberta registration plate on the rear of the quad. The machine is valued at $7,000 dollars. Please see the attached photo for reference. There are currently no suspects or witnesses. All keys are accounted for at this time.
Anyone with information on the location of this vehicle can contact the Elk Valley Regional RCMP at 250-425-6233 to speak with an officer or if they wish to provide their information anonymously, please call BC Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS(8477). Please refer to file 2023-1836. Our investigation is ongoing.
Attempted fraud on Fernie business
On June 25 at 12:25 p.m., Elk Valley RCMP received a report of a possible fraud involving a business in Fernie. The store had received a phone call from an unknown suspect who indicated they were from the Fernie Fire Department. The person indicated they were completing a safety inspection that day in 25 minutes, were on a Facetime call with the owner and wished to be paid up front. The caller was very convincing and managed to obtain some banking information prior to the employee growing weary and stopping the call. The call was made through a WhatsApp number.
Police wish to remind everyone that fraudsters are extremely convincing in their actions and to take care at any point when a caller begins to ask for personal information, banking information or in this case company information. When in doubt, hang up and contact your manager/supervisor, your bank or the Canada Fraud Centre on line for support.
Do not provide personal information over the phone unless you are sure of who you are speaking too. Fortunately, in this case very little was obtained and the business has contacted their bank to advise them of the information obtained. Our file is concluded.
S/Sgt Svend Nielsen is Elk Valley RCMP Detachment Commander
Photo submitted
