Columbia Valley RCMP Report

By S/Sgt Marko Shehovac

At 8:30 a.m. on Jan. 23, Columbia Valley RCMP Detachment received a report of a single vehicle accident with a vehicle hitting an elk on Highway 93/95 south of Bella Vista Heights. The 2005 Ford driven by a female, who looks to be in her 30s from Golden, was not injured. (Self preservation for not giving the actual age.)

Wood stolen from Riverview Road

The detachment received a report of two half cords of wood stolen from two lots in the 4800 block of Riverview Road at 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 23.

Minor injuries in collision with elk near Windermere

At 7:54 a.m. on Jan. 24, the detachment attended to a single vehicle accident on Hwy 93/95 near Windermere, when a 2009 Honda driven by a 77-year-old male collided with an elk. The vehicle received considerable amount of damage while the driver received minor injuries.

Electronics stolen in Timber Ridge break-in

At 7:40 p.m. on Jan. 24, Columbia Valley Detachment received a report of a residence broken into in the 4000 lock of Timber Ridge Road. A door was broken into and a variety of electronic equipment was stolen from the residence. Anyone with information is requested to contact the detachment.

Night in custody for refusal to provide breath sample

At 12:14 a.m. on Jan. 25, a Columbia Valley Detachment member observing traffic near the intersection of A&W in Athalmer observed a vehicle operating in an erratic manner. The 52-year-old driver, observing the police, appeared to make an attempt to lose them and quickly entered a driveway on Borden Street. The driver quickly got out of the vehicle but stumbled against the open door. The driver threw his keys in the snow. Barroom lawyer advice: Don’t have the keys, must not have been driving. The male displayed signs of being impaired and was read the breath demand. The male refused the demand. The male spent the evening in custody and was released with a court date of March 10 charged with Impaired driving and Refuse the breath demand.

Shack crasher loses vehicle for 30 days

At 8:30 a.m. on Jan. 25, Columbia Valley Detachment responded to a complaint of a ‘98 Ford Expedition driving on the ice near the ice shacks and hitting one of the huts. Police were in the area and located the vehicle on 5th Avenue near the lake.

The 36-year-old driver from Invermere displayed symptoms of having consumed liquor. An ASD demand was given at which time the driver blew a fail. Licence was suspended for 90 days and the vehicle impounded for 30 days.

Refusal to leave ends up in night in cells

At 7:37 p.m. on Jan. 25, Columbia Valley Detachment received a complaint of an intoxicated male causing a disturbance in the Windermere area. The male entered the White House Pub and, due to his state of intoxication, was requested to leave. The male refused to co-operate at which time police were called to assist. The 26-year-old male from Invermere was arrested and lodged in cells.

Computer fraudster makes attempt on Invermere woman

A resident in Invermere reported that she was contacted on the phone by a male with an accent representing himself to work with Microsoft and was calling to assist her with her computer. The caller requested personal information along with her credit card number and advised the cost would be in the area of $400. A friend was contacted and once informed was cautioned that this was a fraud. Card payment was cancelled. This is another common fraud experienced in the valley.

Benefits of small town policing

At my first small town posting in Agassiz RCMP Detachment, down the road from Chilliwack, I got my first experience of what it’s like to work small town policing and how we interact with our youths; even with our troubled youth that would every now and then cause us grey hairs. One incident resulted in one of the officers having to arrest and get physical with a male from Chilliwack. We were on the winning end of the battle as it should be. At the time I was just out of training and partnered up with a more senior officer. While on patrol a week after the incident with the Chilliwack male, a group of Agassiz youths we were well familiar with flagged us down. They informed us that they had heard that a group from Chilliwack along with the fellow that we had arrested planned on coming into town and were looking for revenge planning to pick a fight with the police.

The Agassiz kids commented to my partner and I that only they had the right to mess with their Mounties and maybe we should take a ride and disappear as they would take care of the problem. I know that the officers here have experienced that same support when they have found themselves in position of making an arrest with large groups in the vicinity. Many have received assistance. Even to simply advise the officer that they are watching their back is very much appreciated.

That evening in Agassiz, we had no problems and never encountered the group from Chilliwack. I wonder?

Article Share