Submitted by G.D. Simpson
August 17
At 9:34 a.m., Clearwater RCMP received a call from a local lumber yard. They had a male enter the property overnight and carry off approximately 14 to 16 pieces of 2x6, valued at roughly $200.
Const. Van Woudenberg and Cpl. McGeorge attended and spoke to the manager there. She had viewed surveillance camera footage and the male was captured on video surveillance attempting to avoid lights and staying far away from the cameras.
Police continue to work on identifying the suspect. No vehicle was captured on surveillance.
The manager advised they will likely add barbed wire and additional cameras to their facility. Police continue to investigate and are increasing patrols.
August 21
At 1:51 a.m., Clearwater RCMP received a call of a disturbance at a site in a local campground.
The caller’s 17-year-old son was intoxicated and causing damage, smashing stuff. The caller stated her son had smashed out the window on the camper trailer and had threatened to cut his own neck as well as drive his car off a cliff.
Const. Van Woudenberg attended, as did Const. Klassen to assist. BC Ambulance was advised and staged.
Const. Van Woudenberg arrived first and met the son and his cousin. The son explained he’d been arguing all day with his sister and mom and things came to a head that night. Both he and his cousin had been drinking and were clearly intoxicated.
When asked about the suicidal comments, he stated he didn’t actually plan to act on the comments, he was just angry at his mom and sister. When asked later, the cousin confirmed there had been a lot of arguing over the last few days leading to the fight. He also didn’t think the son would take his own life.
The son was arrested for mischief and for being drunk in a public place and transported to Clearwater cells to be released in the morning when sober. Const. Klassen released the son the next morning and returned him to the campground.
Later that day, at 3:49 p.m., a 58-year-old local woman called the Clearwater RCMP to report that a 53-year-old male neighbour was on her property located on Schmidt Road in Clearwater, shouting insults and being verbally aggressive towards her.
Const. Klassen knows of the history between the two and has made the male aware that he is not welcome on his neighbour’s property. He attended and the complainant showed him a photo of her neighbour on her property which had caused her distress.
Const. Klassen then went to the male’s residence to discuss this situation with him. The male became enraged with police presence and yelled at them. He was arrested after a brief struggle. It was apparent that he had been drinking alcohol and was transported to the Clearwater RCMP cells and held until sober. An investigation is on-going.
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.