By Sgt. Bob Vatamaniuck

The last week witnessed the Columbia Valley RCMP respond to about 60 calls for service; last year that number was around 65. The following is a summary of a couple of the more interesting calls.

Timber Ridge B&E under investigation

On January 30 a residential cleaner attended a home in the Timbe Ridge neighbourhood when she noted a broken window and several things rifled through. Realizing that this was indicative of a break and enter she called the homeowner and police.  Several things appeared to be missing and many of the household items had been gone through by the culprits. Members of the Cranbrook RCMP Forensic Identification Services were called to assist with the investigation and it is continuing.

Further steps contemplated regarding vehicle pincher

During the morning hours of January 31, Columbia Valley RCMP received a report of a vehicle that had been taken without consent.  An Invermere resident reported that one of their teenaged kids, along with friends, took the vehicle without getting permission.  After getting more information from the kids the vehicle owner learned that the vehicle was abandoned somewhere in Radium Hot Springs with a dead battery.  Police are working with the family and Crown prosecutor to determine the best course of action to make sure this does not happen again.

One shoe drunk handled by Panorama Security

On February 3, at about 4 a.m. a Panorama Mountain Resort resident called RCMP to report a suspicious male banging on his door.  The complainant reported that the male seemed confused, was wearing one shoe and said he had left a friend’s house a mile away.

RCMP members, recognizing that response could not be immediate, contacted the able Panorama Security to attend while members were en route. Security called minutes later to report that they recognized the male and knew where he is staying.

It was obvious the male was intoxicated and confused.  Security ensured that the drunk male was checked out by first responders as he seemed very cold. They would then take him back to his room for safety.

Security advised that the male is part of a ski team that is at Panorama for the weekend and they were currently working on getting a hold of the team leader for the trip. There were no other calls to police about this matter.

Youths uninjured after crashing stolen truck

During the morning of February 4, Columbia Valley RCMP received a report of a theft of truck. The complainant advised that their young teenaged child [different one from above] had stolen the family truck during the night with his friend and because of their driving inexperience had driven it down a 20-foot embankment on Westside Road, eventually hitting a fence causing extensive damage to the truck.

The kids were okay and managed to walk away from the truck and eventually made their way back into town. Police responded immediately to the report and located and arrested the two youths. The youths were spoken to and then released into the custody of their parents without charges.

Senior uninjured in KNP off-road

Later that day Columbia Valley RCMP received a report that an elderly male had driven into the ditch on Highway 93 in Kootenay National Park and was unable to get out.

RCMP responded to the report and once on scene observed that the male occupant and his dog were still inside his vehicle warming himself with candles.  The driver advised he had already called a tow company and wanted to wait, police requested he wait in the patrol vehicle to keep warm.

– Sgt. Bob Vatamaniuck is commander of the Columbia Valley RCMP Detachment

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