Submitted by Sgt. G.D. Simpson
June 4
Cst. Lockwood was parked at the local tire shop in Clearwater B.C, on Highway 5 at 9:00 p.m. While investigating an unrelated file, he observed a grey 2014 Kia Sportage enter Joyce Lane from the highway using the on-coming merging lane. He conducted a traffic stop with said vehicle in an adjacent hotel parking lot and identified the driver as a 33-year-old Kelowna woman through her BC Driver’s Licence.
Cst. Lockwood could smell liquor coming from the vehicle that had four other passengers. He separated the driver from the others and could still smell the liquor. Two Alcohol Screening Device (ASD) samples were provided by the driver and indicated a “WARN” on both.
She was issued a Notice of Prohibition of driving for three days, however her vehicle was not impounded as it was in the parking lot of the hotel where she was going to be staying. Cst. Lockwood outlined the consequences of driving while prohibited and the factors surrounding the reasons the vehicle was not impounded, but could’ve been.
Unlike her unidentified boyfriend, the driver was polite and respectful.
That same evening at 8:59 p.m., a concerned local mother called the Clearwater RCMP to report a suspicious incident that her 11-year-old daughter had just told her about. She said that on Friday, May 28 while walking home on Vavenby Bridge Road, in Vavenby B.C., a male stopped to ask her if she needed a ride and where she lived.
The male was in his 20s and driving a newer, red car with a broken side mirror. The driver, and only occupant, was wearing a black hoody and a black ball cap with a green brim with a leaf on it. The girl was alone at the time.
Cst. Klassen obtained a statement from the girl and continues to investigate. Police are asking anyone with any information regarding this vehicle or the male described therein to contact them or Crimestoppers.
June 5
At 10:18 p.m, Cst. Klassen observed a 73-year-old Little Fort woman driving her white Honda Ridgeline on McGarrigle Street in Little Fort, B.C. He had just spoken to her about eight minutes prior for another unrelated police matter and believed she was impaired by alcohol due to the strong odour of liquor on her breath.
An ASD demand was read and two warns followed. The woman was the only one in the vehicle and only 200 feet from her residence, so she walked home. A Notice of Driving Prohibition and a three-day Vehicle Impound form were served upon her.
Cst. KLASSEN identified the female as the driver by the photo on her BC driver’s licence. A local towing company attended and towed the vehicle to their secure compound. The woman’s driver’s licence was also seized.
Clearwater RCMP responded to 42 calls for service this past week.
Sgt. G.D. Simpson is the detachment commander at the Clearwater RCMP Detachment. Anyone with information on a crime is encouraged to call Clearwater RCMP at 250-674-2237 or, to report anonymously, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.