Columbia Valley RCMP Report

At 7:50 p.m. on August 17, Columbia Valley RCMP received a report of a male hiking in the area of Catamount Glacier west of Radium Hot Springs fell and seriously injured his ankle. His companions were able to depart the area to get into cell phone range to contact the Detachment for assistance. Due to the location, local Search and Rescue were contacted. Search and Rescue were flown into the area by Elbow River Helicopters and were able to recover the injured male. The male was taken to Invermere and District Hospital.

Twisted screamer avoids detection

At 11:50 p.m. on August 16, Columbia Valley RCMP Detachment received a complaint of a disturbance in the 1500 block of 13th Ave. A female was reported to be intoxicated and screaming. Police attended the area and made patrols of the area with negative results.

Fight complaint lingered into early a.m.

At 12:30 a.m. on August 17, Detachment Members responded to a complaint of a fight in front of Buds Bar. At the time of attendance persons involved in the disturbance were not located. Later, at approximately 5 a.m., there was a complaint of a disturbance in front of the hospital. A 35-year-old male from Radium Hot Springs was located and found to be bleeding from the face. The male indicated he was involved in an altercation that appeared to be related to the first call. The victim did not request police involvement or charges. The male was treated at the hospital and released.

Sleeping drunk taken home

At 1:18 a.m. on August 17, Columbia Valley Detachment received a complaint of an intoxicated male passed out in the 1300 block of 7th Avenue. Police located a 22-year-old male from Calgary, and eventually woke him up. The male advised that he had worked long hours and consumed more than he should have. Police were able to determine from the male that he had family in the area. He was driven to the family member.

Plenty happening in 1300 block…

Detachment Members received a 3 a.m. complaint August 17 of a disturbance in the area of the 1300 block 7th Avenue. The person reporting the incident advised that there appeared to be two groups of males pushing each other and a fight may break out. The males departed the area before police arrived. Patrols were negative for any further disturbance in the area.

Cranbrook woman hits bear by Canal Flats

At 10 a.m. on August 17, the Detachment attended to a vehicle collision with a bear on Highway 93/95 near Canal Flats. A 2008 Toyota Corolla driven by a 50-year-old female from Cranbrook collided with a small bear crossing the highway. The vehicle had to be towed from the scene. A search of the area for the bear proved negative.

Man pushes woman off dock

At 5:30 p.m. on August 17, the Detachment responded to a complaint of an assault where an argument resulted in a 23-year-old from Invermere pushing a female off a dock. The male was arrested for assault.

Assault outside bar

At 1:46 a.m. on August 18, Columbia Valley Detachment received a complaint of assault after a male was refused entry into the bar. This male and another male, aged 19, got into an argument where the 19-year-old male was assaulted. No serious injuries. The investigation is continuing.

Uncooperative drinker spends night in sin bin

At 2:30 a.m. on August 18, as a result of a complaint of disturbance, a 31-year-old female from Calgary was arrested in Radium for being drunk in public. The female indicated that she would drive back to Calgary. Friends seized her keys. As the female was refusing to co-operate she was lodged in cells for the night.

Back in the days

Today, young officers will dent up a police vehicle, a noticeable dent, and you would be lucky if they report it. Just a dent; cost of doing business. Hardly visible; no sweat.

Well, back in the days, or as Cpl Grant Simpson often will say, the “Markosaurice days,” it was big trouble and you would be disciplined for any dents you put on a police vehicle.

We were fortunate in Maple Ridge, the community was small enough in the late ‘70s that we got to know our mechanics and garage operators. Quick phone call, payment to the tune of a bottle of whiskey, and voila the garage is open at midnight and we would do some quick dent repairs. Owner would just tell us to lock up.

Worked with an officer who told me that while stationed at Mission Detachment he had the same experience with his dent. I gathered that his dent was much more serious when he told the oncoming day shift officer to not lean on the right front fender area as the paint was fresh.

S/Sgt. Marko Shehovac,

Columbia Valley RCMP Detachment

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