Submitted by Elk Valley RCMP
The Elk Valley RCMP responded to 421 calls for service between May 26 and June 26, 2020. RCMP responded to the following calls:
- Eight Animal Calls
- Five Assaults
- One Assault with a Weapon
- Five Uttering Threats Against Person
- Five Breach of the Peace
- Three Breach of Bail Violations
- Six Cause a Disturbance
- 20 Collisions
- One Harassing Communications
- Three Fraud
- 18 Well Being Checks
- Nine Mischiefs
- 27 Suspicious Persons/vehicles/occurrences
- Six Theft Under $5,000
- One Dangerous Operation of Motor Vehicle
- Three Theft of Motor Vehicle
- Four Theft from Motor Vehicle under $5,000
- One Criminal Harassment
- One Possession of Cocaine
- One Possession other Schedule I Drug
- One Break & Enter to Business
- One Luring a Child via Computer
- Two apprehensions under the Mental Health Act
- One Obstruct Police Officer
- Five Sexual Assaults
- One Sexual Interference
- Two Trespass Act
- Three Missing Persons (located).
- Eight impaired drivers were intercepted by the Elk Valley RCMP resulting in the following:
- Seven 90 Day Driving Prohibitions plus 30 day vehicle impoundment
- One 24 Hour Prohibition Section 215 Motor Vehicle Act
Cyclist vs. motor vehicle – Sparwood, B.C. (June 25, 2020)
A female cyclist was struck by a truck on 13th Street and 2nd Avenue in Sparwood. The cyclist had slowed down and cycled out into the street, assuming the driver of the truck would slow down. The cyclist was not wearing a helmet, was cycling on a sidewalk, and either did not dismount to cross the road or ignored the stop sign. The truck had the right of away.
The female cyclist suffered from a very minor bump on her leg and a bent front wheel and there was no damage to the truck. RCMP attended and determined no charges would be laid against the cyclist or the driver of the truck.
Elk Valley RCMP would like to remind all cyclists to wear their helmets, obey all street signs, and be very cautious at all intersections.
Attempted break in by masked male – Fernie, B.C. (June 28, 2020)
On Sunday June 28, 2020, around 12:30 a.m., an unknown masked male, brandishing a knife, had attempted to break into a new home in Fernie, B.C. The male was wearing a large, white semi rigid face mask with exaggerated facial features, light coloured pants, a dark hoodie with light coloured contrast stitching at the seams, including wrist, shoulder, neck and hood opening and was seen trying to force the lock with the knife before leaving the residence. The new residence was equipped with surveillance cameras and a door bell camera.
If you have any information regarding this incident, you are encouraged to contact the Elk Valley RCMP at (250) 425-6233 or remain anonymous by calling a tip into Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or by leaving a tip online at Crimestoppers.net.
Save On Foods broken window – Fernie, B.C. (June 28, 2020)
On Sunday June 28, 2020 around 4:00 a.m., an early morning employee of the grocery store noticed a front window broken but no one had gained entry. RCMP attended and ensured the site was secured.
If you have any information regarding this incident, you are encouraged to contact the Elk Valley RCMP at (250) 425-6233 or remain anonymous by calling a tip into Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or by leaving a tip online at Crimestoppers.net.
Dog hit by train – Fernie, B.C. (July 2, 2020)
On Thursday, July 2, 2020, Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) notified the RCMP that an unleashed dog was on the rail road tracks and its owner, a young male, tried chasing after the dog in an attempt to get the dog off the tracks. RCMP attended and learned the dog was taken by its family owners to a veterinary clinic however had later died of its injuries. There were no other injuries reported to the RCMP or CP Rail Police.
CP Rail has provided personnel debriefing services for its employees involved in this tragic matter. The dog’s family members have also been provided with services offered through the RCMP.
Wildfire Act ticket – Coal Creek Road (July 5, 2020)
On Sunday, July 5, 2020 around 10:30 a.m., an Elk Valley RCMP officer was patrolling in the Coal Creek Forrest Service Road and came upon a white Nissan Altima, facing downhill on a trail and appeared to be high-centred on a water-bar.
The RCMP had received a report of a stolen vehicle in the same vicinity, but of a different make and model. The officer noticed a female in the back seat of the Altima and began asking a series of questions. At one point during their conservation, the female rolled down her window and threw a cigarette butt out the window. When she failed to comply with officer questions and demands, she jumped out of the vehicle and took off running. She was located within minutes and was given a ticket under the Wildfire Act, Section 3(1) in the amount of $575.
Dangerous operation of motor vehicle – Sparwood, B.C. (July 6, 2020)
On Monday, July 6, 2020, Elk Valley RCMP and East Kootenay Traffic Services responded to three reports of an erratic driver in a white Nissan Altima, starting from Elko, through Sparwood and then to the area of Elkford, B.C. The driver of the Altima was seen driving into oncoming traffic and swerving excessively all over the road. The vehicle was spotted near the four-way intersection in Elkford.
However, attempts to stop the vehicle by the RCMP were negative because the vehicle had accelerated past them at a high rate of speed. In concern for public safety, officers did not pursue but headed southbound on Highway 43 where the vehicle was last seen.
RCMP were able to catch up with the driver of the Altima and completed a safety stop. The female was immediately arrested for several offences including operating while impaired, dangerous driving, flight from a Peace Officer, failure or refusal to comply with Blood Demand, Possession of Stolen Property, and Failure to Comply with Undertaking. The female, from Lethbridge, is currently in custody awaiting a bail hearing for her charges.
No one from the public, the female driver or the RCMP were injured in this incident.
The Elk Valley RCMP continue with their investigation and are asking any one who may have witnessed or video recorded any part of this incident on their cell phones, to contact the Elk Valley RCMP at (250) 425-6233.
Elk Valley RCMP – Curfew checks result in reports to BC Prosecution Service
Recent curfew checks by the Elk Valley RCMP have resulted in two reports being forwarded to the BC Prosecution Services within a period of one month. Curfew checks are one of the initiatives the RCMP detachments are committed to in reducing crime. Officers put an extra emphasis on conducting curfew checks throughout their policing jurisdiction.
The goal with curfew checks is to ensure that people awaiting trial or those who are serving sentences in the community understand and follow their conditions and to act as a deterrent to future offences. During the checks, most people were found to be compliant with their conditions, though two reports were forwarded to BC Prosecution Service for failure to comply with court orders.
