Sgt. Grant Simpson
March 21
A 29-year-old Little Fort man called police to report that he had witnessed a male driving a white Dodge dually with a welding rig in the back come around the corner on Highway 24 and crash into his fence. The driver was fine, but could hardly walk as he was intoxicated.
Cpl. McGeorge attended the location and located the B.C.-plated vehicle off road left in the ditch against the complainant’s fence. There was no one around the vehicle, with minor damage to both it and the fence.
The complainant said approximately ten minutes prior to police arrival, he saw from his house that a vehicle stopped at the location, and stayed for several minutes, before departing towards Highway 5. They added they did not know the make or model, or which way on Highway 5 this vehicle departed.
Cpl. McGeorge checked the crashed vehicle on scene and found the inside smelling strongly of beer and saw about a dozen empty Lucky cans inside. Queries of the vehicle showed it was owned by a Fort St. John energy company, the primary driver of which has an invalid driver’s licence.
The officer contacted this driver on the phone who refused to provide his location, but admitted to being the driver. He was cautioned about driving as he was obviously intoxicated, even on the phone. Because he admitted to being the driver, he confirmed he would attend the detachment the following day to receive a ticket for driving with an invalid licence, and his vehicle would be held until such time that he renewed his licence.
The truck was towed to our local tow yard for safe keeping.
March 22
At 1:08 p.m. a 28-year-old Clearwater man called the RCMP to report a meat theft from the 300 block of Robson Street.
That morning at 2 a.m., his dog was barking in the house. Later, when he went outside, he noticed that all the bison meat wrapped in white wrappers was stolen from his outside freezers. The freezers aren’t locked. Wrapped meat was also located in his yard and in his neighbours yards.
The complainant reported that a 55-year-old local man had stopped by earlier that night asking for change and had previously attended and was provided with bottles and cans.
Const. Meyer was familiar with this male, though has not observed him out after dark. He attended the male’s residence who advised he wasn’t home during the day but returned by 8 p.m. Const. Meyer advised the complainant that the only suspect identified was questioned but denied taking any of the meat.
The complainant said he would speak with his neighbours. Several options to prevent similar thefts from occurring in the future were discussed with the complainant, such as locking his freezers and installing trail cameras or surveillance systems for his property.
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.
newsroom@clearwatertimes.com
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter