A deep nap taken in a running vehicle on a Sparwood street has led to potential deep trouble for two Cranbrook residents.

On October 28 at 12:15 a.m., Elk Valley RCMP was on patrol in Sparwood when an officer came across a vehicle with all four-way hazard lights activated and the vehicle running.

A query of the licence plate attached to the vehicle showed it being inactive without insurance, so the officer got out and approached the vehicle.

The driver, a 25-year-old Caucasian man, and the passenger, a 37-year-old woman – both from Cranbrook – appeared to be unconscious in the vehicle.

Fearing an overdose, the officer was able to rouse the woman in a few seconds but it took over a minute to rouse the driver, police reported.

“The officer eventually got the driver’s attention by banging on the driver’s window of the car and the door was finally opened by the man. Further checks of the driver confirmed he was prohibited from driving a motor vehicle, so he was arrested for driving while prohibited,” explained S/Sgt. Svend Nielsen, Elk Valley RCMP Detachment commander.

A visual search of the area within arm’s reach of the driver located a duffel bag between the door and the driver’s left leg, from which the officer could see a sawed-off shotgun within the open bag.

Both were then arrested for possession of a prohibited firearm. A further search of the vehicle located another automatic firearm, a significant amount of ammunition along with drugs and other paraphernalia indicating drug trafficking. The shotgun was determined to be loaded when cleared by police.

The female was released without charge to BC Ambulance after complaining of a personal pain issue and the man was released on an Undertaking to appear in Provincial Court in Fernie come February 2024 after a short stay in Sparwood Detachment cells.

“As charges have not yet been sworn, their identities cannot yet be released to the public. Our investigation continues, file 2023-3480 refers,” S/Sgt. Nielsen said.

e-KNOW file photo

e-KNOW

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