By Cpl. Grant Simpson

As a result of unseasonable weather we experienced over the past week Columbia Valley RCMP responded to 58 calls for service. Here are just a few of them…

Unhinged man causes disturbance at national park lodge

On June 10, at 11:02 p.m., Columbia Valley RCMP received a report of a disturbance at the Kootenay Park Lodge (pictured above) located at Vermillion Crossing on Highway 93, in Kootenay National Park.

Banff Dispatch advised that staff at the lodge were dealing with a violent and belligerent male. Police responded to the report but were advised shortly after receiving the call that the male had departed on foot north on Highway 93 toward Highway 1.

Police were contacted shortly after by Kootenay Park Wardens and provided assistance in dealing with the male as he had been previously warned for illegal camping the day before. Police then attended Kootenay Park Lodge and met with the owners. They advised that the male had camped out at the Vermillion Crossing picnic area the previous night and whom they provided with a free meal. The male became aggressive with them the next day when he was asked to leave their business and started swearing at them and wanted to fight them.

The male left when the owners advised they were going to call the park police.
Police and Park Wardens located the male a short time later, a couple of kilometers away. The male who would only provide his name and refused to provide his date of birth to confirm his identity, was subsequently arrested by Park Wardens for illegal camping. The male advised he had been assaulted by the lodge owners but had no marks to support this claim, which was subsequently investigated and confirmed unsupported at this time. Investigation is ongoing.

Mysterious loiterer at hospital

On June 12, at approximately 4:55 a.m., RCMP dispatch reported an intoxicated female hanging around outside of the Invermere & District Hospital. The complainant and employee at the hospital reported that the female said something about a 60-year-old male she was bringing in from the bar who was having trouble breathing. The employee reported that the female was alone and added that she was concerned for the female’s safety. The employee indicated that the female had long brown hair, was wearing a handbag, white shirt, black leggings, and brown boots, but could not determine her age. The employee updated police that she lost sight of the female outside. Police conducted extensive patrols for this intoxicated female with negative results.

Point ‘counter’ point resolved

On June 13, just after midnight, a 56-year-old Windermere male called 911 to report that he’d had a dispute with his 53-year-old brother and that he had left his own residence in the 4700 block of Government Street, in Windermere. Police attended and spoke with the younger brother who said his older brother was drunk and they’d had an argument over who needed to clean the counter. While on the phone with 911, the older brother wasn’t sure why he called the police as he was not requesting any help, and later hung up on the call taker. There was no indication suggesting that there was any physical altercation or that either brother was injured. Police attempted to call the older brother back and conducted extensive patrols for him without success. He apparently made it back home without further incident.

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