By Sgt. Bob Vatamaniuck 

The past week the Columbia Valley RCMP received about 50 calls for service; the following is a sample of a few of them.

Theft at The Source

During the afternoon of October 12, a shoplifter was reported by The Source in Invermere; the culprit took a bluetooth sound speaker. The investigation is continuing but if anyone has any information about this they are asked to call the detachment or Crimestoppers.

Trucker using cell while driving

Later in the afternoon on October 12, RCMP was dispatched to an erratic driver; a logging truck had been weaving in and out of its lane as it travelled northbound on Highway 93/95. RCMP caught up to the truck and evidence suggested the driver was using a cell phone while operating the truck. The driver’s licence, log book, pre-trip planner and registration/insurance documents were produced and found to be in order. The officer gave the driver a written warning for utilizing his cell phone while he was driving.

Cash taken from unlocked vehicle

During the afternoon of October 13 a male attended the detachment to report that his wallet was stolen from his vehicle on September 30. Along with items taken were his driver’s license and some other ID cards; also stolen was a significant amount of cash; he had left his vehicle unlocked with these items inside.

Crash under investigation

In the evening of October 13, RCMP and BC Ambulance personnel were dispatched to a single vehicle rollover in Kootenay National Park; approximately eight km east of Radium Hot Springs. When police arrived they discovered the vehicle severely damaged. There was a lone male in the rear passenger seat. The attending emergency personnel could smell alcohol on the driver. The driver was taken to hospital for minor injuries and police are continuing the investigation of what led to the incident.

Threatening male defied court order

During the night of October 14, Columbia Valley RCMP was alerted to someone who had threatened some people at the Radium Community Hall in Radium Hot Springs. An unknown male walked into a private event and threatened everyone in the hall, then left. The RCMP advised those in the hall to lock all doors so the male could not regain entry as they made patrols in the area. The witnesses reported that the male may have been intoxicated. After getting a good description of the male RCMP realized that it was most likely a person well known to police who posed little threat. RCMP located the male near some trees near a local park. It was obvious to the officers that the male was intoxicated; this was in defiance to a court order whereby he was not to consume liquor.  He was charged accordingly.

Window shot with pellet gun

On October 15, an Invermere resident called to report that someone had discharged a pellet gun at the front window of a home. At first the homeowner believed that there had been an issue with a recently purchased window as there was a popping noise and a crack in the glass. However, it wasn’t long before the homeowner heard another pop noise and noticed what appeared to be another hole in the window. Police attended and noted two small holes/cracks in the front window of the home. The RCMP then went to the residence directly across the road and spoke with the residents. A young male disclosed that he and two friends had been playing with the pellet guns to shoot pop cans and fence posts. The boys did not realize that they had hit the window across the street. The pellet guns were seized and the investigation is continuing.

Hotel checked

During the very early morning of October 18 an employee of a chain hotel in another city called Columbia Valley RCMP to check on a sister hotel in Radium. The district manager was attempting to do a nightly check on the sister staff but was unable to reach anyone. The manager requested police to check on the staff to ensure their wellbeing. RCMP made an immediate patrol and spoke with the front desk clerk who had advised they were having issues with their phone lines; therefore, he was unable to call out or receive calls. The RCMP let the hotel staff speak on a RCMP cell phone allowing them some peace of mind.

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