Submitted by  Sgt. Darren Kakuno
Detachment Commander
Columbia Valley RCMP

This past week, May 2 through May 8, the Columbia Valley RCMP responded to 73 calls for service. The following is a summary of some of the files our officers responded to.

• On Tuesday, May 3 at about 2:30 p.m., a gas station in Windermere reported a female had entered the store and either stole or failed to pay for an item. An officer attended and was able to identify a suspect through video surveillance. The officer spoke to the suspect who insisted they had forgotten to pay for the item. The item was returned to the store and charges are not being recommended in this case.

• On Thursday, May 5 at about 4:40 p.m., an off-duty officer observed an Oldsmobile Intrigue on Highway 93/95 near Radium Hot Springs being driving by an adult male with outstanding warrants. Other officers in the area located the vehicle at a residence near Invermere and observed the driver running from the car. The individual was located inside the residence and arrested without incident on his outstanding warrants. The man was brought before a judge the following day and held in custody.

• On Friday, May 6 at about 1:30 p.m., an officer was conducting patrols in Radium Hot Springs and noticed a U-Haul cube van abandoned on Horsethief Forest Service Road. The officer ran the plate and confirmed it had been stolen out of Surrey on April 30. Anyone with information about the abandoned U-Haul van is asked to contact the Columbia Valley RCMP.

• On Saturday, May 7 at about 10 p.m. Columbia Valley RCMP officers conducted a check stop at Athalmer Road and Lakeview Road in Invermere. Officers checked approximately 50 vehicles and were happy to report no infractions.

• On Sunday, May 8 at about 1:30 p.m., emergency crews responded to a three vehicle collision on Highway 95 north of Edgewater. A northbound commercial transport truck crossed the centerline and struck a southbound pickup truck. The pickup truck collided with a barricade then struck a northbound SUV. Three occupants of the pickup truck were transported to hospitals with non-life threatening injuries. The driver of the commercial transport truck was issued a violation ticket for crossing a double solid line contrary to the Motor Vehicle Act. Read the full story here.