Submitted by G.D. Simpson
April 29
A 45-year-old male attended the Clearwater RCMP Detachment around 9:45 a.m. to report that his foreman uttered a threat and tried to assault him. This took place at the rest stop just north of Avola, B.C., at 7:30 a.m. that morning.
The complainant works for a contracting company as a skidder operator. He provided a hand-written statement in which he states that the foreman and he had an argument at a local gas station in Clearwater that morning regarding filling out time sheets.
Both men then met near the job site at the rest stop at which time the foreman told the complainant to leave and allegedly threatened him. The foreman then got out and tried to reach through the complainant’s driver window and grab at his head, but missed. The complainant then drove away and now plans on quitting this job.
Cst. Klassen has made attempts to contact both the foreman as well as the owner of the company as this investigation unfolds.
Later at 12:55 p.m., a 48-year-old Blue River man called the Clearwater RCMP to report a suspicious vehicle fire located on Herb Bilton Way in Blue River, B.C.
The Alberta licence plate indicated that the vehicle was stolen from Valemount earlier in the morning and the registered owner is a 52-year-old Whitecourt male.
The complainant advised that the fire department was called to the vehicle fire and upon arrival located a butane torch sitting in the center console burning. The interior of the vehicle was full of smoke and destroyed. Members of the fire department extinguished the blaze and departed.
A second call was received from a witness employed by TMX, advising of the same situation. Cst. Klassen attended and obtained several statements, including one from the witness, the registered owner and the complainant.
Witnesses had been at the scene when a known 41-year-old female was in the vehicle, thus in possession of the stolen property.
Investigation into this matter is on-going in order to support charges that will be submitted to Provincial Crown Counsel. Coincidently, the female suspect was arrested a day later, by Salmon Arm members in a vehicle stolen out of Barriere, B.C.
May 1
Kelowna Telecoms advised the RCMP of house fire on Clearwater Station Road in Clearwater, B.C. at 6:18 p.m.
Residents were out, as the structure was totally engulfed in flames. Cst. Meyer and Cst. Van Woudenberg attended. Both the Clearwater and Blackpool Volunteer Fire Departments were on scene along with BC Ambulance Services.
The 86-year-old registered owner of the property, and his 64-year-old tenant were outside watching the fire. The owner reported he had a fire going in his shop furnace which was attached to his house and forgot to close the door. While in his house, he heard a bang and the building was on fire. The tenant assisted the owner out who is unable to walk by himself.
RCMP Victim Services were advised and attended the scene. Emergency Social Services were also involved. Cst. Meyer took the owner and tenant to find lodging at the Wells Gray Hotel, two to two-and-a-half hours after the fire started.
Firefighters were on scene for the majority of the night as buildings, vehicles, ammunition, propane tanks and sheds, etc., were all on fire. This is a total loss for the owner as he only got out with a vehicle and keys for transportation. Police were on scene until 11:00 p.m. and the fire department re-attended Sunday morning for flare ups.
Clearwater RCMP responded to 34 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.