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Columbia Valley RCMP Report
By Cst. Chris Joy
This past week, April 2 through to April 8, the Columbia Valley RCMP responded to 50 calls for service. Here are a few examples of some of the files that were dealt with by our officers this week.
Loud party
On Friday, April 6, at approximately 11 p.m., RCMP received a report of a loud house party with multiple minors consuming liquor in Invermere.
The complainant pointed out that youths were drinking inside and outside of the residence and were being violent with each other. The officer responding to the call had no issues locating the residence in part due to the noise level from the teenagers, the smell of stale beer and the glow of cell phone screens.
Upward of 50 youths and young adults were scattered on the property. Officers observed that several underage youths were drinking alcohol.
The owner of the residence was located and was spoken to. The parent cooperated with the officers and even drove several youths home. The youths went on their way and the officers were glad to see that the teenagers took safe choices regarding their options in order to return home.
We will take this opportunity to remind parents, guardian and/or older siblings that under the B.C. Provincial Liquor laws it is an offence selling, giving or supplying liquor to a minor. This offence has a hefty price of $575, if the officers deemed a situation to merit a violation ticket. Each youth in possession of or had consumed liquor prior to the age of 19 years old could each receive a violation ticket for $230.
Impaired driver three times over limit
On Friday, April 6, at approximately 9 p.m., RCMP received a report of a black SUV driving erratically near Sobeys in Invermere. The complainant indicated that the vehicle was all over the road and was driving in the oncoming lane at times. Once the license plate was obtained, an officer attended the residence and located the vehicle in the driveway. After speaking with the driver, officers obtained enough evidence to request a breath sample from the female driver.
After the failed result, the female attended the detachment with the officers where she provided two suitable samples that were nearly three times the legal limit imposed by the Criminal Code of Canada. The female driver was provided with a court date in the near future and a driving prohibition. The female was release into the care of some very helpful friends.
Impaired operation in Kootenay National Park
On April 2, at approximately 2 p.m., Columbia Valley RCMP received a complaint of a possible impaired driver on Highway 93 in Kootenay National Park.
A black pickup truck was seen swerving all over the road. An officer conducted patrols of the area, located the vehicle, and initiated a traffic stop near the Radium Hot Pools. After speaking with the driver, the officer formed grounds to obtain a roadside breath sample, which was higher than the legal limit set by the Criminal Code of Canada.
Queries of the driver also showed that he was under court-imposed condition not to consume liquor. The male was arrested for the Breach of his conditions and released with a future court date. A 90-day driving prohibition was also issued in relation to the impaired driving offence.
False alarms and abandoned 9-1-1 calls in the valley
As previously reported, false alarms and abandoned 9-1-1 calls account for a large portion of the calls for service for the Columbia Valley RCMP.
In 2018 alone, nearly 20% of our calls for service have been for those two categories. As many of these calls originate from payphones located throughout the valley and are usually placed by children under 10 in response to let’s say, ‘a dare’ parents are reminded that they should ensure their children understand the seriousness of making such calls when there is no actual emergency.
Needless to say, abandon 911 calls tie down resources that could be utilized on other police duties.
Columbia Valley RCMP would also like to remind homeowners to update their contact information with their alarm provider and to ensure that all the sensors are in good working condition.
As for 9-1-1 calls, please be mindful of your cellular phones and wearable devices (mainly Apple Watches) capable of dialling 9-1-1. We recently received daily 9-1-1 calls from skiers at Panorama, who were unaware that their devices phoned police.
Passed out in vehicle but not impaired
On April 6, Columbia Valley RCMP received a report of a male who was ‘passed out’ in a vehicle in front of a local drinking establishment in Invermere. A Columbia Valley RCMP member responded to the report and located and identified the male who strangely enough did not present signs of alcohol or drug impairment.
Although not a typical result, the public is kindly requested to call the RCMP anytime they observe someone who is ‘passed out’ under suspicious circumstances in a vehicle anywhere in the valley as we will kindly investigate the matter to determine whether or not they are capable of operating a motor vehicle legally.
– Cst. Chris Joy is a member of the Columbia Valley RCMP Detachment
