Submitted by Staff Sgt. Marko Shehovac
Columbia Valley RCMP
Faithful advice: I read with interest Pastor Trevor Hagan’s article (The Pioneer, Nov. 28th) “A gift of expectancy” where he questions when it is appropriate, or the rule of when, Christmas decorations and music should be played. The answer is clear: 7:30 p.m., November 11th after the Remembrance Day dinner is completed at the Edgewater Legion. Glad I was able to be of assistance.
Fraud alert: The Columbia Valley detachment has received information that a male identifying himself as Mr. Watson from Canada Revenue has been phoning people stating they should call him as soon as possible or there will be a tax lien against them.
On Thursday, December 4th at 6:50 a.m., the detachment responded to a single vehicle accident involving a 97 Chev Lumina on Highway 93/95 near Wagon Wheel Frontage Rd. Vehicle was south bound and lost control on slippery road entering the north bound lane and ended up in the ditch. The driver was later located at the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
On Thursday, December 4th at 7:52 a.m., the detachment received a report of stolen car that, it was quickly learned, was not in fact stolen. A brief investigation revealed the car was left warming up in the driveway and slid away and went down an embankment out of sight.
On Thursday, December 4th at 5 p.m., the detachment received a complaint of theft of FedEx packages from a 2007 GMC Savanna cube van that was left parked broken down on Highway 93/95 near Canal Flats.
On Friday, December 5th at 2 p.m., as a result of information brought forward by Child and Family Services, an investigation was initiated into a complaint of sexual interference and assault. The investigation resulted in the arrest of a 32-year-old male from Invermere. The male will appear in Invermere Provincial Court on February 16th. The male was soon arrested, breaching his release conditions given to him by the police. The male was brought before a Justice of the Peace and released on strict conditions.
On Friday, December 5th at 9:30 p.m., the detachment received a complaint of theft of four propane tanks from The Family Pantry in Canal Flats. The investigation is continuing.
On Friday, December 5th at 8:40 p.m., the detachment received a complaint of a 39-year-old male from Invermere breaching a condition ordering him not to attend a residence on his own. The detachment was informed that the male had breached this condition. On December 7th, the male attended to the detachment, was arrested and brought before a Justice of the Peace where he was released with modified conditions.
On Saturday, December 6th at 12:30 a.m., detachment officers responded to a disturbance complaint of a large group of males fighting outside of a local bar. A number of youths were located, resulting in a 22-year-old male being arrested for drunk in public. The male was released when sober along with a ticket under the Liquor Licensing Act for being drunk in public.
On Saturday, December 6th at 9:41 p.m., detachment officers responded to a disturbance at Purcell Drive in Fairmont. While at the scene, a 45-year-old female from Fairmont drove up to the officer in a 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The female displayed signs have having consumed liquor. An ASD demand was read at which time the driver blew a fail. Driver’s licence was suspended for 90 days and the vehicle impounded.
On Sunday, December 7th at 12:42 a.m., detachment officers attended to an assault complaint on Kootenay Road No. 3. A 36-year-old male was arrested for assault and lodged in cells until sober. The victim did not wish to pursue assault charges.
Welcome Wagon
A while back, I did an article of what mischief we can think of when we are not busy. I had one of those moments a couple of weeks ago when I found myself bored and needed something destructive to do. Everybody has some concern when a new person or family moves into the neighbourhood, hoping it will be someone friendly and easy to get along with. So, when a friend I refer to as Big Al moved into a new neighbourhood recently, I thought it would a good gesture on my part to ensure the neighbours know he’s a good guy and there should be no concern.
So off I go to his house in a police car in the evening, angle the car with the headlights facing his front door, activate the police lights and get on the blow horn, calling out, “Big Al, we know you are in the house, come out with your hands in the air.” Then: “We know you are in there Big Al, so come out or we are coming in.” I don’t know if he is having much interaction with his neighbours of late.
~Marko