POLICE BEAT: Christina Lake hotspot for boating infractions
By Erin Perkins
One week into the official summer vacation and Grand Forks RCMP, with the help from reserve constable Chris Cottril, have written 37 warnings, charged one man with being under the influence of alcohol while operating a boat, cleaned up after one boating accident and ticketed a man with drinking at the Christina Lake Provincial Park.
Police ticketed visitors and locals for everything from not having a boat operator’s license to towing people behind a boat without a spotter and driving boats too close to marked swimming areas, said Grand Forks RCMP staff sergeant Jim Harrison.
On Saturday, July 7 at 8:14 p.m. RCMP made their first impaired charge for the summer season with a 20 year-old Rossland man.
Police saw the man standing in his 12 foot (3.7 meter) aluminum boat as he was driving it on the lake. The man had an “advanced case of intoxication” said Harrison, when police pulled him aside. His first breath test was a fail. He was taken to the Grand Forks detachment where he again was tested and he blew a .14 reading (.08 is the legal limit).
He faces the same consequences for operating a vehicle while under the influence as he would for a car.
“We are taking boating seriously this year,” warns Harrison.
“We’ve already had one accident when a vessel hit the shore and destroyed the vessel,” he said, adding there were luckily no injuries in the incident.
Earlier that same day police were doing a foot patrol at Christina Lake Provincial Park at 3 p.m. where they charged an individual with consuming alcohol in a public place.
The 19 year-old Grand Forks man was ticketed on the spot to an appreciative applaud from the crowd.
“As the constable was walking away several people clapped,” said Harrison. “When the ticket was issued the public made some nice comments to the constable for doing his job.”
Harrison reminds the public that drinking is not permitted in public places with one exception; alcohol can be consumed at a provincial campsite if it is within your camp.
Christina Lake isn’t the only busy place. In total RCMP between Midway and Christina Lake have responded to 132 calls since Monday, July 1, said Harrison. It is usual in the summer to see double the number of complaints, so the call outs are expected.
Police looking for theft suspect in Grand Forks
Over the past two weeks Grand Forks RCMP have responded to more than 15 theft complaints that police believe are linked to one or two male suspects, said Harrison.
The thief, or thieves, has been stealing items from people’s backyards including bikes, tools and generators. The suspect is not breaking and entering; rather the person is helping themselves to what is lying around.
The male suspect has been seen driving a two tone blue and gray GMC pick -up truck. Harrison said there are likely two people involved and they choose to hit between 3 a.m. and 4 a.m.
“We’re asking for the public’s help,” said Harrison. “If you see this truck out and about or see a person acting suspiciously please call us.”
“I want to remind people to please don’t leave valuables out in sight where they can be lifted.”
If you have any information about the above crime, please contact the Grand Forks RCMP at 250-442-8288 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
