Lillooet RCMP March 1 to March 7 2023, Calls for service: 35

Fraud

On March 2, a man reported that someone was attempting to sell the complainants property in Rainier, Oregon. The unidentified suspect produced a Canadian Passport via email to the realtor agency in Oregon that listed the property. Family that lives in Oregon made the complainant aware of the listing. Columbia County Sheriffs were advised and were the police of jurisdiction. The realtor also removed the listing after speaking with the complainant.

Liquor act

On March 3 at 3:30pm, Lillooet RCMP observed two men in the 600 block of Main St drinking open alcohol. The men were cooperative in pouring out an open bottle of Bailey’s liquor. Both men were respectful, appeared sober at that time, and were asked to move along.

Roadcheck

On March 3 at 9pm Lillooet RCMP and Stl’atl’imx Police conducted a roadcheck on Seton Lake Rd near Main St. Police were targeting impaired and unlicensed drivers. Approximately 50 vehicles were checked, no impaired drivers observed. Several verbal warnings for minor motor vehicle act infractions were given.

Breach of peace

On March 3 at 10pm, police received an abandoned 911 call from an address in the district of Lillooet. Police attended the address, but received no answer at the door. Callback to the phone number went to voicemail. After calling out through an open window with no response, police entered the residence through the window. A man was observed sleeping in a chair in the living room and attempts to awake him were unfruitful, until police applied a trap squeeze. The man immediately awoke and became combative with police and appeared intoxicated. Police cleared the residence and did not locate anyone else inside. The man denied calling 911. The man attempted closed fist strikes against the attending members, which were all blocked. As there were no further safety concerns police departed.

By 2:30am, the man made thirteen further calls to 911 call-takers where he was screaming obscenities, and complaining about police at this residence. Police re-attended his residence, arrested the man for breach of peace, and transported him to cells to spend the night. The man was released the next morning.

Collision

On March 5 at 9pm, police were advised of a single vehicle that had gone into the ditch on Hwy 1 about 10km south of Lytton. Witnesses stated the driver and passenger were observed leaving the vehicle, and head down a steep driveway and heavily wooded area with no lighting. Lytton RCMP attended with assistance for the police dog services (PDS) unit. A search of the area did not locate the vehicle occupants. Search and rescue declined to attend. On March 6, Lillooet RCMP attended to assist Lytton police, along with PDS and the Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS/drone) unit. With the RPAS unit searching by air, an abandoned cabin was located in the wooded area. Police attended with PDS. Police dog Murph entered the cabin that was nearly fully dark inside, and immediately located a man and woman hiding inside the cabin laying on top of each other in a partially hidden corner of the cabin. With the Murph barking loudly at the couple, they were cooperative in obeying police commands and exited the cabin with police.

The man was found to be in breach of a court ordered condition and was arrested without incident. The woman stated they had ran from the vehicle because the man was scared of going to jail. They got lost in the dark woods after fleeing the crashed vehicle, and ended up huddled together outside overnight with just hoodies and sweatpants on. In the morning they found the cabin and tried to warm up inside. The female driver was issued several violations tickets for infractions relating to the collision under the motor vehicle act, and was picked up by family.

Picture: RPAS unit assisting with locating two missing vehicle occupants on March 6, 2023.