Clearwater RCMP responded to 42 calls for service over this past week. A few of the more interesting ones are highlighted below:
Sept. 10
At 12:35 p.m., Clearwater RCMP received a report from a Blue River female of a break and enter to the snowmobile club parking lot shack located at the Finn Creek pull-out off of Highway 5 outside Avola.
The shack is used during the winter by employees to collect trail fees for using the snowmobile club trails, which they maintain throughout the winter season.
The complainant was unsure when the break and enter occurred, except it was between April when they closed for the summer, and Sept. 9, when she received photos from a board member who discovered the break and enter.
Police spoke further with the complainant and confirmed stolen were a roof mounted solar panel, a wall mounted propane heater, the antenna for a cell phone signal booster, and two 12 volt deep cycle batteries.
Access was gained by smashing the lock off the door; Clearwater RCMP continue to investigate this incident.
Sept. 12
At 8:39 p.m., Clearwater RCMP received a report from the owner of the Wells Golf and RV Park located in the 6000 block of Clearwater Valley Road, outside Clearwater.
They reported one of their campers from the Netherlands had approached her and reported that her 66 year-old husband had left for a run to Helmcken falls at roughly 12:30 p.m., and had yet to return.
Police responded immediately and after speaking with the wife of the missing to confirm details, travelled up Clearwater Valley Road to Helmcken Falls and back, checking all outhouses between the two points, as well as the Majerus farm warming hut, and the Green Mountain viewing tower.
Provincial Emergency Program was called and Clearwater Search and Rescue (SAR) activated. SAR attended with three searchers and checked all trails between the RV park and Helmcken Falls looking for footprints and other signs.
Recent prints were located on the Majerus farm trail, but it was unknown if the prints matched the shoes of the missing as his wife only knew he had proper running shoes, which were not particularly consistent with the prints SAR had observed.
The search was suspended after several hours due to reduced visibility; however, it was resumed in the early morning with the assistance of an RCMP helicopter.
At 10:28 a.m. police received a call from the Wells Gray Guest Ranch advising they had found the missing male walking in one of their fields. Although he was very cold he was in otherwise good condition.
Sept. 13
At 2:38 p.m., Clearwater RCMP received a report from a Little Fort resident of an abandoned pickup located off of Eakin Creek Road outside of Little Fort.
The truck was a Blue Ford F-150 bearing a B.C. license plate, which had previously been reported as lost. Police responded to the area and located the vehicle, 1km down Eakin Creek Road, then turn onto a logging road for 300 metres, then right turn onto a smaller access road for 200 metres to where the truck was located sitting on blocks with no wheels and no battery.
The dash was significantly torn apart and both rear door windows were broken out. Police confirmed the VIN on the vehicle matched that of a stolen truck from Prince George in June 2018. The vehicle was towed out as investigation into this matter is ongoing.
Sept. 15
Clearwater RCMP were advised by the Joint Rescue Coordination Center (JRCC) that a white aircraft had departed Stony Plain, Alberta en route to Chilliwack B.C. the day before when it went missing at roughly 11:31 a.m.
The JRCC provided identification numbers and GPS coordinates, which map roughly 1km southwest of Amnesty Peak near Blue River. The JRCC said pings of the occupant’s cellphones show these same coordinates. Subsequent pings of the cellphones were negative. Clearwater RCMP is maintaining contact with the JRCC and Stony Plain RCMP.
The JRCC is the main investigator/searcher and RCMP are assisting them.
Any queries, tips or information regarding these cases should be directed to Sgt. Grant Simpson at 250-674-2237
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