Submitted by  Sgt. Darren Kakuno
Detachment Commander
Columbia Valley RCMP

This past week, Oct. 11 through Oct. 17, the Columbia Valley RCMP responded to 62 calls for service. The following is a summary of some of the files our officers responded to.

• On Tuesday, Oct. 12 Columbia Valley RCMP received a report of mischief to a fence near the Chamber of Commerce office in Invermere. The fence had been spray painted with white graffiti sometime over the previous two days. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Columbia Valley RCMP. 

• On Wednesday, Oct. 13, a black 2016 Kawasaki Mule was reported stolen from the 11km mark of Kootenay Forest Service Road sometime between Oct. 8 and 12. At the time it was stolen, the UTV had B.C. license plate 13907X attached to it. 

• On Wednesday, Oct. 13, at about 10:30 p.m., emergency crews responded to a two vehicle commercial transport truck collision on Highway 95 near Edgewater. Upon speaking to the drivers, the investigating officer learned that a northbound commercial transport truck slowed for traffic and was struck from behind by another commercial transport truck. No injuries were reported. The driver of the transport truck that was not able to brake in time was issued a violation ticket for following too closely. 

• On Wednesday, Oct. 13, at about 11 p.m., a suspicious male was reported in a parking lot on Copper Road in Invermere. The male, who was dressed in dark clothing, fled from the parking lot in a white pickup truck prior to police arrival. While searching the parking lot, the investigating officer discovered a hole had been drilled into the fuel tank of a Ford F150 in an apparent attempt to steal fuel from the truck.

• On Thursday, Oct. 14, at about 6:45 p.m., emergency crews responded to a single vehicle collision on Columbia River Road in Fairmont Hot Springs. The driver of a Jeep Patriot failed to negotiate a curve in the road and went off-road right and down an embankment. The driver and passenger suffered minor injuries. The driver was issued a violation ticket for driving without due care and attention. 

On Saturday, Oct. 16 at 8:20 a.m., the driver of a Jeep Patriot was stopped for speeding on Highway 95 north of Radium Hot Springs. While speaking to the new driver, the officer formed suspicion that the driver had alcohol in her body and read a roadside breath demand. The driver complied with the demand and blew two “Warns.” As a result, the driver was issued a 3-day immediate roadside driving prohibition and a violation ticket for speeding.