Alleged thief identified
As reported last week, on Feb. 26 the manager of the Ashcroft liquor store called police to report an instance of shoplifting. A review of the surveillance tape showed a person taking bottles off the shelf. The manager thought she knew who the suspect was, and an image from the tape was shown to a member of the community, who made a positive identification. A male was arrested at his residence on Hwy. 99 on March 6, and was released under condition to appear in court on April 4.
Déjà vu all over again
On March 1 at 9:00am, police were called to a single vehicle accident on Hwy. 1, 10km south of Ashcroft Manor. It was at the same spot—near the Hat Creek Road turnoff—and very similar to an accident that happened on Feb. 22: the driver lost control of his vehicle, went into the ditch, and rolled over. The driver, who was the sole occupant of the 2001 Dodge pick-up, suffered minor injuries, including a head injury, and was transported to Royal Inland Hospital (RIH) in Kamloops to be assessed. The 34-year-old male, a resident of 100 Mile House, was issued a violation ticket for driving too fast for the road conditions.
Wild goose chase
On March 1 police received a complaint of gunshots being fired in a field at Thompson River Estates near Walhachin. This was the day that goose hunting started, and when police investigated they found a hunter hunting geese on the property of the Lancaster Ranch. The hunter had permission from the property owner to be there hunting. It was determined that the hunter was far away from any residences.
Slippery when wet
On March 1 at 11:21am, police were called to an accident on Hwy. 99 west of the Hwy. 97 intersection. A 2002 Chevy Ventura van had gone off the road and into a ditch due to the slippery road conditions. There was minor cosmetic damage to the vehicle, and the driver, who is pregnant, was taken to RIH to be checked over. No charges are contemplated.
Frequent flyer returns
On March 3 at 7:00pm, police were advised that the 30-year-old Smithers male who is well known to them as a hitchhiker through town, and who was moved along from Cache Creek on Feb. 23, had returned and was sleeping in the foyer of the Royal Bank of Canada branch in Cache Creek. He had already been asked to leave the lobby at 5:30pm that same day, but had returned by 7:00. He was asked by police to leave town, which he did, saying he was on his way to Kamloops from the coast.
Making and keeping the peace
On March 6 at 3:30pm, police were asked to attend a disturbance at a residence on Stage Road in Cache Creek. A couple were engaged in a verbal dispute, although they did not admit any particular reason for the dispute to police. As no assault or threat to injure anyone had been made, police made peace between the pair, and both parties agreed to calm down and get along.
Bathroom break in
On March 7 police received a report of a break-in at the maintenance building at the Ashcroft Indian Band, which would have occurred over the weekend. This corresponded with the RCMP having attended a motion alarm at that location. Police had attended, but could see no sign of a break-in, as the alarm was for the main garage, and subsequent investigation showed that someone had made an entrance to the building through an electrical room. They then knocked a hole in the wall leading to a bathroom, and climbed over the bathroom wall to gain access to the main garage building. Nothing was missing, and it is assumed that large pieces of equipment were the target. However, the would-be thieves were unable to open the large, double-locked main doors of the garage. The Band is looking to beef up security at the building. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the Ashcroft RCMP detachment or Crimestoppers.
Deer in the headlights
On March 7 at 7:45pm, police were called to a car accident on Hwy. 97C near Barnes Lake. The male Ashcroft driver of a 2005 Nissan Ultima had hit a deer which had stepped onto the road. There was severe damage to the car, which had to be towed from the scene.
