Trail RCMP foil getaway after armed robbery of 7-11 this morning
An armed robbery was thwarted this morning when police apprehended the suspect outside the 7-11 he had just robbed, according to Trail top cop Sgt. Rob Hawton. "On Dec. 19 at approx. 5:15 a.m., police were called to the 7-11 in downtown Trail for a robbery in progress," Hawton explained. "The lone suspect wielded a knife and...
RCMP ask for public info after rash of attempted car thefts
A rash of attempted car thefts have police asking the public for assistance, according to Trail RCMP Cpl. Kelly Hall. "Between the evening hours of Dec. 14 and the morning of Dec. 16, a number of vehicles in the West Trail area were damaged during theft attempts," said a press release issued by Hall. "During the incidents two...
PART TWO: What does 'crime reduction' look like in Castlegar and Trail?
Last week, we discussed the overarching goals of a specialized RCMP Crime Reduction Unit in Castlegar, as presented to city council by CRU non-commissioned officer in charge Cpl. Darryl Orr and his supervisor, Sgt. Mike Wicentowich (To read Part One, click here). Those goals/priorities include in-depth or long-term investigations,...
UPDATE: New information on pedestrian fatality in Winlaw
West Kootenay Traffic Services Cpl. John Ferguson has shed some light on last night's pedestrian fatality, and the causes thereof: "We're pretty sure it's not a suicide," he said. "The physical evidence we can see (would indicate) that he was trying to wave the vehicle down for a ride, but was doing so in the middle of the...
PART ONE: Why spend a quarter million $ on a Crime Reduction Unit? Castlegar can answer
With a municipal election cycle looming less than a year away (November 2014), city council checked in on one of its most publically-visible investments – namely the RCMP Crime Reduction Unit (CRU). A specialized unit which the city agreed to help fund back in 2008, the CRU costs local taxpayers roughly $218,400 per year,...
UPDATE: Coroner releases name of victim in Satuday's fatal crash
The BC Coroners Service has confirmed the identity of a man who died following a motor vehicle incident in Montrose, near Trail, on Nov. 30, 2013. He was Bernard Harold Doherty, aged 52, of Montrose. Doherty was a passenger in a car which left the road and went down an embankment on Highway 3B in Montrose, about 10 kilometres...
Police warn of yet another scam making the rounds in the region
Castlegar RCMP are warning of yet another scam making the local rounds - the twist being that these scammers show up as dialing from local numbers on call display units. Police Const. Josh Baron said police have received numerous complaints about calls wherein the person who answers the phone is advised they have won 26,000...
Police ease social-media-driven fears that US fugitive is at large in region
Trail RCMP are seeking to diffuse community concern after several social media reports indicated a US fugitive might be in the area, according to RCMP Cpl. Dave Johnson. "Trail and Greater District RCMP have been fielding several enquiries about a possible US Fugitive that may be in the area of Fruitvale," Johnson said. "On...
UPDATE: No new information a week after sketch released
RCMP have no additional information a week after a sketch was released to the public in the November 13 robbery of the Shopper’s Simply Pharmacy Castlegar, formerly Paragon Pharmacy, in the Sunflower City. The suspect, described as early 20's, approximately 5'8", slim build wearing a dark blue/grey jacket, entered the pharmacy...
Senior uses pocket knife to end dog fight
A 72-year-old Vancouver used a knife to end a dog fight near Kitsilano Beach Park, Nov. 20. The unnamed man was walking his pug off-leash when it ran up to another dog. The dog, which was identified as a pitbull in a Vancouver Police Department press release, was on-leash and being walked by a woman. The dog started to fight...