Submitted by  Sgt. Darren Kakuno
Detachment Commander
Columbia Valley RCMP

This past week, June 21 through June 27, the Columbia Valley RCMP responded to 81 calls for service. The following is a summary of some of the files our officers responded to.

•On Wednesday, June 23, a resident on 3rd Avenue in Invermere reported his 2005 Dodge SX was stolen from the property sometime between 11 a.m. and 10 p.m. The vehicle had been left unlocked with the keys in the vehicle. The vehicle had BC license plate KN067G on it when it was stolen.

•On Friday, June 25, at about 11p.m., an officer conducted a traffic stop with the driver of a Honda Accord on Highway 93/95 in Windermere. While speaking to the driver, the officer formed suspicion the driver had alcohol in his body. The driver, who was also determined to be a prohibited driver, complied with a breath demand and blew a “fail”. As a result, the driver was arrested for prohibited driving and impaired operation. The driver provided two more breath samples at the Detachment, which were both over the legal limit. The driver was issued a 90-day Administrative Driving Prohibition and released on an Appearance Notice to attend court at a later date.

•On Sunday, June 27, at about 1 a.m., Columbia Valley RCMP received a report of a black Toyota Tacoma speeding and spinning its tires at a campground in Fairmont Hot Springs. An officer located the vehicle and spoke to the driver, who admitted to having a couple of drinks. The driver was issued a 24-hour driving prohibition, and his vehicle was impounded for 24 hours. 

•On Sunday, June 27, a white and blue 2007 Monterey boat and trailer were reported stolen from in front of a residence on Lakeview Road in Invermere sometime overnight. The boat had hull identification number RGFMC357F707. 

•On Sunday, June 27, at about 6:30 p.m., Columbia Valley RCMP responded to a report of a vehicle fire on Highway 93 in Kootenay National Park. Upon arrival, officers observed a Dodge pickup fully engulfed in flames. The driver reported smelling and seeing smoke and managed to pull the vehicle over before it started on fire. No injuries were reported, and the cause of the fire was believed to be a mechanical issue.