Six-month report
Between January and June, the RCMP report the following statistics for their area of service, from East Sooke to Port Renfrew:
Property offences are down 20 percent (13 per cent in Sooke)
Violent crime down 12 per cent (15 per cent in Sooke)
Noise disturbances down 22 percent (13 per cent in Sooke)
Mischief and vandalism down 31 per cent (20 per cent in Sooke)
They have received a total of 2,637 calls for service so far this year, 2,064 of which have come from Sooke.
Accidents
Wet roads are contributing to accidents. Drive with extra care when the roads are wet.
June 7 – There was a single vehicle accident on Otter Point Road, in the 2700 block. The call was received at 5:50 a.m. There was approximately $5,000 in damage to the vehicle and the driver suffered non-life-threatening injuries. Speed was a factor, compounded by wet road conditions.
June 13 – A call came in from Muir Creek at approximately 10:30 a.m., although it is estimated that the accident happened at around 2 a.m. A motorist spotted an injured man and called the RCMP. The injured man was driving a car westbound when it rolled off the road and down an embankment. The car, a 1990 BMW, was totalled. The driver, who was alone in the vehicle, suffered wrist lacerations. The driver was charged with driving without due care and attention.
June 26 – The RCMP received a call at 11 a.m. reporting a single vehicle accident. Gravel and wet road conditions caused her to spin out of control. Speed was not an issue.
Break and Enter
June 12 – A residence in the process of construction was broken into on the night of June 12, and was reported on June 13. The temporary front door was kicked in and some power tools were taken.
Serious Assault
June 22 – A serious assault was reported on Sooke Road. A driver in a vehicle witnessed an incident taking place in another vehicle. A man, later identified as 34-year-old Dustin Colemartin, was seen striking a female on the head with gun. When Colemartin pulled over, the witness also pulled over and called 911. Colemartin was charged and kept in jail until his court appearance, which occurred on Tuesday, June 25. He pleaded guilty to three charges: assault, assault with a weapon causing bodily harm, and possession of stolen property (he had tools from a construction site in his car — not the same tools mentioned earlier in the report). When he was apprehended, two pellet guns were seized. Coleman received a conditional sentence (no jail time) with numerous conditions attached. Conditions include a 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. curfew, and he is not allowed alcohol or drugs, and he is not allowed to possess drug paraphernalia. He is allowed to visit the victim, with her consent.
Community Alert
The RCMP are warning people about young people going door-to-door offering window cleaning services. In situations where unsolicited services are offered, you need to be wary that it might be an unsavoury character scoping out your residence. Never invite a stranger into your home, and always do reference checks on any contractor.
