Easter Long Weekend Media Release - Trail and Greater District RCMP

Theft leads to impaired and assault charges

File # 2024-1214

On Sunday, March 30, 2024, at 5:59 p.m. a frontline Trail and Greater District RCMP officer received a report that a 44-year-old Rossland man allegedly attempted to steal liquor from a business in the 1900 block of Columbia Avenue, in Rossland, BC. The liquor was recovered; however, the man drove away from the scene in a vehicle. The officer located the man and his vehicle then detained it roadside.

The officer made observations that lead him to believe the man’s ability to operate a motor vehicle was impaired by alcohol. A demand was read to the man, who provided a sample of breath roadside that resulted in a fail.

The 44-year-old Rossland man was issued a 90-day Immediate Roadside Prohibition (IRP) under Section 215 of the BC Motor Vehicle Act and had his vehicle impounded for up to 30 days.
The officer took the man into custody due to his level of impairment by alcohol. While in police custody, the man allegedly attempted to strike the officer. A conductive energy weapon was deployed to stop the attack and bring the man back under control. The man was lodged into the Trail Detachment cell block. The man was later released when sober.

Trail RCMP will forward a report recommending one count of Assault Police Officer contrary to Section 270 of the Criminal Code to Provincial Crown Counsel.

Trail man arrested for breaching his conditions

File # 2024-1238

On Monday, April 1, 2024, at 12:23 p.m. Trail and Greater District RCMP officers received a report that a 61-year-old Trail man was allegedly breaching his court ordered conditions by attending a residence in the 1500 block of Pine Avenue, in Trail, BC. The man had reportedly broken into a residence that he was banned from attending due to a previous incident.

Officers attended the residence and knocked on the door. The man showed up at the door in a towel, and was believed to be under the influence of a drug. The man was arrested and taken into custody after retrieving his clothes. Officers discovered three firearms inside the residence and seized them which may be linked to the incident.

Head-over-wheels?

File # 2024-1244

On Monday, April 1, 2024, at 3:25 p.m. a frontline Trail and Greater District RCMP officer and EHS attended an incident where a 45-year-old Trail man had allegedly injured himself after falling off an one-wheeled electric device on Eldorado Street, in Trail, BC.

The attending officer inquired with the man on what lead up to the crash. The man, who was not an enjoyer of police interaction, launched into a swear-filled diatribe against the officer. The officer believed that alcohol impairment may have been a contributing factor leading to the crash, and the man’s attitude.
EHS transported the 45-year-old Trail man to the Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital for additional medical treatment.

Holy mischief!

File # 2024-1250

On Monday, April 1, 2024, at 10:57 p.m. frontline Trail and Greater
District RCMP officers were dispatched to a mischief report on Rockland Avenue, in Trail, BC. A complainant had reported that youths were knocking on doors and announcing that they were Jesus and there to save them. Despite making it an Easter themed prank, it was not appreciated by the people in the neighbourhood.

The officers located the group of youths who scattered in all directions upon arrival. Officers caught up with one youth who was too slow in deciding on which direction to flee. Officers asked him to relay a warning to the other youths to cease the prank, or they may be spending the night in the King’s Accommodations.

Woman drives off highway and into marsh near Oasis, BC

File # 2024-1266

On Tuesday, April 2, 2024, a frontline Trail and Greater District RCMP officer responded to a report of a single vehicle incident on Highway 22, near Oasis.

A 53-year-old Greenwood woman was still on scene when police arrived, and reportedly uninjured. She told police that she was driving to Castlegar when her and her vehicle left the highway, flipped over, and crashed into a marsh. The vehicle ended up partially submerged. The woman managed to exit the vehicle and received assistance from other motorists. The woman alleged that she was cut off by a black Dodge Ram truck which caused her to veer off the highway.

An officer seized drug use paraphernalia and one gram of a substance believed to be Fentanyl. The officer believed that drug impairment may be a factor in the cause of the crash.

If you witnessed this incident or have dash cam footage, please contact the Trail Detachment at 250-364-2566 to speak to an investigator, say Sgt. Wicentowich.

2024 Trail and Greater District 1st Quarter Statistics

1st Quarter of 2024:

• Theft from motor vehicle dropped to new lows as the public continued to be proactive when securing their vehicles and items.
• Mental health related calls rose from 52 to 77, possibly reflecting the time of year associated with the onset of winter depressions and post-Christmas financial stress.
• Files involved drugs and alcohol increased from 52 to 77 believed to have been influenced by the environment of de-criminalization.
• Drug investigations dropped to a yearly low believed to be influenced by the BC wide de-criminalization legislation.
• Check well-beings, suspicious persons/vehicles/occurrences, and unspecific assistance dropped 35 % as the police were called less to deal with a variety of scenarios.
• Motor vehicle collisions were up slightly; however, there were no fatalities.
• Impaired driving charges were down.
• Total calls for service down approximately 15% when compared to the 1st Quarter of 2023.
   

Released for:

Sergeant Mike Wicentowich
NCO i/c Trail Detachment
Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) / Government of Canada
Tel: 250-368-2180