Submitted by
Sgt. G.D. Simpson
April 15
A local realtor called the Clearwater Detachment to report that her house, on Old North Thompson Highway in Clearwater, B.C., was broken into, along with her freezer, outside her residence.
Cst. Lockwood attended and spoke with a resident there who showed him the freezer and the unlocked, rear door to the residence. There was a backpack located nearby that was full of items from the freezer, as well as a smashed music speaker on the roadway outside the house.
There was no video surveillance or witnesses. The resident was reporting for information as there is no evidence to show who this could be.
Cst. Lockwood recognized the backpack as the same one that a local male was wearing a few days prior to this offence. He and Sgt. Simpson attended the male’s residence and advised him of this information. Cst. Lockwood told him that although there is insufficient evidence at this time to show that it was he who had committed this offence, police would be digging further into this investigation given the description of the backpack.
Not surprisingly, the male was unreceptive to this information. The investigation is ongoing.
Police would also like to remind everyone to ensure that their property and belongings are secured.
That evening, 47-year-old female resident called the RCMP to report a disturbance at an apartment building on Park Drive. She said an intoxicated male was on his balcony yelling and swearing at the top of his lungs. The complainant advised that this had been going on for the past 15 minutes.
A second call was received from another female neighbour about this same resident. While obtaining details over the phone, the 911 operator could hear the male screaming in the background.
Cst. Meyer attended and located the male after speaking with the complainant. The male was later identified and located, angry and yelling from his fourth-floor apartment. He came down and was confrontational and very aggressive with both Cst. Meyer and Cst. Lockwood.
Cst. Meyer sat with the male at a nearby picnic table listening to him decompress from his anger with the Queen, Justin Trudeau, the police, hurt feelings from his falling out with a friend that night, the loss of his brother a month and a half ago, his poor health and his poor living conditions.
Cst. Lockwood observed and took part in the de-escalation conversations with the male for over an hour. When the male had calmed down and somewhat apologized for disturbing the neighbours, he went back to his bed- and couch-less apartment.
Police departed without charges. The neighbours observed police interaction with the male and appreciated their intervention, patience and understanding.
Clearwater RCMP responded to 36 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.