Columbia Valley RCMP Report

Detachment members were advised Feb. 21 of an adult male being aggressive with staff at the Best Western who made a threat towards the staff. The suspect vehicle description was provided.  A 34-year-old male from Calgary was arrested for threats and was escorted back to the Best Western.

Suspicion of drug impairment

Also on Feb. 21, Columbia Valley Detachment and East Kootenay Highway Patrol were advised of an erratic driver on Highway 95 north of Edgewater.  A 44-year-old male from Alberta was stopped and although he had been consuming some alcohol he blew well under the limit. It was determined from the driver’s behavior that drugs may have been involved. The driver was given a 24-hour suspension and his vehicle towed for 24 hours impound.

Edgewater driver busted for impaired

At 1:34 a.m. on Feb. 22, a Columbia Valley Detachment member checked a 1991 Chevrolet pickup near 8^th Avenue and 15^th Street. The 43-year-old driver from Edgewater displayed signs of having consumed liquor and was given the ASD demand. The driver blew a fail. The vehicle was impounded for 30 days and licence suspended for 90 days. The driver made a comment to the officer that the police should go after real criminals. That is the number two response we often hear. “I’ll have your job” is the number one comment.

Impaired neighbour takes exception to new fence

At 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 22, the detachment received a complaint of mischief to a fence in the Wilmer Pontoon Road area. A neighbour, having consumed some alcohol, took exception to a fence another neighbor was building and damaged it.

Police suggested ways to resolve the matter. The owner of the fence did not wish to pursue charges.

Breach bust for aggressive Saskatoonian

At 12:23 a.m. on Feb. 23, detachment members attended to Panorama Mountain Village to assist security which was dealing with a 22-year-old male causing a disturbance and attempted to assault one of the security personal. The male was intoxicated at the time. The male from Saskatoon was arrested for breaching a court condition when it was determined that he was not to consume any liquor.

Drugs help NFA man end up in Cranbrook psych ward

At 8:15 a.m. on Feb. 23, Columbia Valley Detachment received a complaint of a suspicious male lying down on the side of the road on Hwy 93/95 near Canal Flats.  The male was suffering from frost bites and hallucinating. The 19-year-old male of no fixed address from the Nelson area admitted to also consuming drugs. Given the physical and mental condition of the male B.C. Ambulance, also on scene, took the male to the hospital.  Physical injuries were taken care of and the male was transported to Cranbrook Psychiatric hospital for further care.

Cranbrook woman assaults man

Columbia Valley Detachment responded to an assault complaint in the 300 block of Laurier St. at 11:30 a.m. on Feb. 23. A 45-year-old female from Cranbrook assaulted an adult male by throwing a liquid in his face. No serious injuries. The female was evicted from the boarding home. The female was arrested for assault. The victim did not wish to pursue charges.

Proper interview and interrogations

One of the challenges of police work is the ability to conduct proper interviews and interrogations.

For some it’s a natural; others work on perfecting this talent. The expertise and experience of the interrogator will often dictate the success you have at finding the truth.

I started to hone in on this skill at I believe the early age of 10 or 11. The maturity level, expertise and experience was somewhat lacking.

During one of our many war games amongst friends, myself and another friend Richard, caught one of the enemy. We captured Richard’s brother Magoo. We took him to our headquarters; my parents’ basement and proceeded to interrogate him on the location of the rest of his troops. He refused to co-operate; a good soldier. If memory serves me right it could have been Draino or some other chemical that should not be put in one’s mouth that we in fact put in his mouth to get him to talk. I recall it was in crystal form.

Although I say we lacked a great deal of maturity or common sense, we at least realized rather quickly that our prisoner was not able to speak even if he wanted to, but was now in fact in medical distress. The other enemy, the parents, took swift action and immediately transported Magoo to the hospital. We were taken into custody by our parents to await the outcome.

From the reaction of our interrogation technique, our eventual punishment would depend on the severity of his injury should he live. Whatever we put in his mouth he spit it out pretty fast.  There was hope.  He lived and although we couldn’t get him to talk, he blabbed a great deal to our parents. Richard and I were not afforded the rights of prisoners of war under the Geneva Convention and the execution of punishment was without tribunal or legal representation and it hurt.  For those citizens who may find themselves being interviewed by me, the RCMP has taught me a softer approach. But, the Draino is in my top left drawer.

S/Sgt. Marko Shehovac

Columbia Valley RCMP Detachment

Article Share