Truck collision
Feb. 12 at 10:31 pm police attended a collision between two semi trailers on Hwy 1 near Spatsum Bluffs. A southbound truck hauling a flatbed of lumber met up with a northbound truck carrying a load of groceries and the two trucks sideswiped each other, causing a considerable amount of damage to both trucks and spilling their contents on the highway, along with some diesel. There were only minor injuries to the drivers, a 51 year old Alberta man in the lumber carrier and a 46 year old BC driver in the grocery truck. The highway was closed for several hours while the debris and fuel were cleared away. No charges were laid as it could not be established which driver crossed the centre line.
Looking for treasure
Feb. 13 at 9:49 am staff at the Village Office in Ashcroft called to report a suspicious vehicle parked at the back of the building where the Thrift Shop was located. The complainant stated that the occupants were rumaging through the donation bin and provided a license plate number. Police contacted the Registered Owner of the vehicle, a 74 year old Ashcroft man, who said he and his neighbour often went. He said he didn’t realize it was theft. Police also spoke to the neighbour, a 62 year old woman, who said they were just looking at the items in the Free box outside the door. She was advised that all items are the property of the Health Care Auxiliary and they can’t just help themselves to it.
Contact leads to more charges
Feb. 13 at 7:06 pm North Okanagan RCMP asked for assistance with a 44 year old Cache Creek man who had breached the conditions of his probation by contacting a female in their area by phone and by text, trying to persuade her to drop charges of assault and mischief against him. He was arrested at his home in Cache Creek and his cell phone seized as evidence. He was held in custody and escorted to court in Kamloops on charges of obstructing justice, breach of undertaking, trying to get a witness to recant evidence and breach of recognizance.
Passports missing
Feb. 14 at 9:37 am an 81 year old Cache Creek man reported that some time over the past two weeks, an unknown person had entered his room and stole two passports from his jacket pocket. One was an expires US passport, the other an expired European passport. There was no forced entry of door or window and no suspects.
One thing leads to another
Feb. 14 at 11:50 pm RCMP were called to a residence on the Ashcroft Reserve after an intoxicated 53 year old male called to report that a female guest had threatened him and another male in the residence with a knife, waving it at him. He could not provide any other details. Police attended, but the female and the other male had left. They were located in their vehicle just outside their residence on the Bonaparte Reserve. The 47 year old woman was co-operative and sober, but her 47 year old boyfriend was intoxicated and began yelling and swearing at police. The male was found to be on probation with conditions not to consume alcohol. He was arrested and handcuffed and lodged in cells overnight, held for a court appearance in Kamloops the next morning.
Missing youth returns home
Feb. 15 at 12:39 am police received a report of a missing 15 year old Ashcroft boy, who hadn’t been seen since 4 pm the previous afternoon. The mother said the boy had no history of going missing and it was out of character for him. Police followed up with his friends who said he might be at a party where alcohol was available. Police made patrols but could not located the boy. At 10:50 am the mother called to report that her son had returned home from a friend’s house.
Hwy 1 speedway
Feb. 16 at 12:25 am an officer on patrol in Cache Creek observed three vehicles southbound in Hwy 1 in front of the Husky. One of the vehicles, a 2012 Kia Sorrento, was rapidly pulling away from the other two at a high rate of speed and was clocked by the radar at 108 kph in the 50 kph zone. The driver, a 50 year old Quesnel man, explained that it didn’t seem like a 50 kph zone. He also advised that he hadn’t had a ticket in a long time - meaning since last July, which was the last of four tickets issued to him in the past five years. He was issued a ticket for excessive speed and his vehicle was impounded for seven days.
Quads have rules
Feb. 16 at 2:06 pm police received a complaint about a male riding a quad without a helmet or a licence on the Ashcroft Reserve. The complainant said he was making excessive noise as well by revving his engine. Police located the 21 year old man and advised him that he could fined under the Motor Vehicle Act. The man said he didn’t think the Act could be enforced on a Reserve. The officer told him that it could and that his quad could be impounded and he could face fines up to $1,000 if he was caught riding his quad again in the same manner.
Alcohol, arguments and allegations
Feb. 17 at 11:12 pm police received a complaint from a 54 year old woman who wanted two noisy males removed from her house on the Ashcoft Reserve because she wanted to sleep. Police attended the residence for the first of many times over the next eight hours. One of the men, 22, had already departed. The other 62 year old male was found sleeping in a kitchen chair. He was woken up and agreed to stay at a neighbour’s house for the rest of the night.
At 3:32 am police were called to assist the Ashcroft Fire Dept, after a fire was reported at the same residence. A 43 year old neighbour spotted flames coming from a barbecue next to the house and called the fire department. He also ran next door and removed the flaming barbecue, burning his hand as he did so. He pounded on the front door but there was no answer, so he went to the neighbour’s house where the two males - father and son - were staying and woke them up. The son rushed into the smoke-filled home and woke up his mother, who was still asleep. All escaped without injury and the fire was put out by the Fire Dept. All three went to sleep at a neighbour’s house.
Police were called again at 5:29 am and at 6:30 am by the female, who was grossly intoxicated and still drinking, claiming to have been assaulted by her son two weeks previous, but she would not provide further information. She wanted him removed from the house again, even though he was the only one in it at the time. She was advised that the police could not remove someone from their own home just because someone else wished it.
GPS finds stolen truck
Feb. 18 at 12:26 pm an employee of Kiewit Flatiron Ltd. notifed RCMP that one of the company’s vehicles, a Ford F350, was located by its GPS on Hwy 1 near the entrance to the Semlin Valley Golf Course. She said the truck was reported as stolen from their yard. The GPS indicated that the truck had been parked there since 4 pm the afternoon before. The truck was located with the key still in the ignition. There was no one in it. The truck was undamaged and the welding equipment in the back, including a generatory and acetylene tanks, were untouched. There were no signs of forced entry on the truck. It was towed for repairs before being returned to its owners in Coquitlam.