Submitted by RCMP
Isn’t it legal?
On April 26th a McBride RCMP officer conducted a road check on Highway 16 at Tete Jaune. The officer smelled marijuana in a vehicle and arrested the occupants. A small amount of marijuana was located and seized.
Later, at the same road check the officer located a second vehicle which smelled of marijuana. Again the occupants were arrested and a search yielded a small amount of marijuana. The occupants explained that they believed possession of marijuana was legal.
The officer educated the occupants that possession of marijuana without a valid medical prescription was not legal and they may face charges.
Erratic drivers
On Apr. 27th the Valemount RCMP received a complaint or an erratic driver on Highway 5 near Tete Jaune. The vehicle was tailgating and passing in an unsafe manner. An officer located the suspect vehicle in Valemount and issued warnings for the driving behaviour.
On Apr. 28th the Valemount RCMP received a complaint from the Jasper RCMP of a motorcycle travelling West at a high rate of speed and driving in a dangerous manner. Valemount officers set up a road check on Highway 16 at the Tete Jaune scales and identified the driver of a motorcycle matching the description given. The RCMP in Alberta was provided the identity of the driver and charges may be forwarded.
On Apr. 29th the Valemount RCMP received a call of an erratic driver on Highway 5. The licence plate provided was found to be stolen. A Valemount officer located the vehicle coming into Valemount and attempted a traffic stop. The vehicle fled at a high rate of speed and for public safety reasons the officer did not pursue. The Clearwater RCMP was notified and was able to intercept the vehicle which was also found to be stolen. Five occupants were taken into custody and multiple charges are being pursued including possession of stolen property.
Damage to roadway
On Apr. 30th the McBride RCMP received a complaint of mischief to property in Crescent Spur. It was found that an unknown person or persons had driven a truck onto private property and damaged a roadway. The owner of the vehicle was identified and the matter is still under investigation.
“Joint” road check
On Apr. 30th the Valemount and McBride RCMP conducted a joint road check on Highway 16 at Tete Jaune. During the road check a Valemount officer smelled marijuana in a vehicle and arrested the occupants. A small amount of marijuana was located and seized. The driver was given a field sobriety test which they failed. The driver was issued a 24 hour prohibition for driving while impaired by drugs. The vehicle was impounded.
When a stranger calls
On May 1st the McBride RCMP received a complaint regarding a harassing phone message. The message was a well-known phone scam in which an unknown person demands the recipient takes action or there will be consequences. People are reminded to guard against providing personal or sensitive information during such phone calls and to report such incidents to the police.
Suspect being investigated
On May 1st a McBride RCMP officer was conducting a road check on Highway 16 at Tete Jaune. During the check a vehicle approaching from the South was seen to erratically change direction and flee the area. The officer soon found the vehicle abandoned on a side road and an extensive search was conducted. The vehicle owner could not be contacted and it was feared the vehicle had been stolen. Area residents assisted by monitoring the area and one witness saw a male running in the bush. A police dog attended from Prince George and was able to locate a track however this track was frustrated by the odour of numerous pedestrians and domestic animals in the area. The investigation continues and the police have a suspect.
Slow down: RCMP
On May 1st a Valemount RCMP officer located a vehicle travelling North on Highway 5 near Camp Creek speeding at 160 km/h. The vehicle was stopped and the driver was issued an excessive speeding violation. The vehicle was impounded for seven days.
