Sunshine Coast RCMP reported the following for July 16 to 22:
On July 16, police were called to assist the Egmont fire department with a vehicle fire in the 6600 block of Maple Road.
The fire spread to a nearby boat and the surrounding bush before it could be extinguished. The file is still under investigation.
On July 16, police pulled over a suspected impaired driver heading southbound on Highway 101 near Pratt Road in Gibsons. The driver, who had been witnessed swerving in his lane in Roberts Creek, appeared to be impaired and did admit to having consumed alcohol the night before.
Further investigation revealed the truck had a propane leak coming from the front of the vehicle into the cab. The driver was issued a 24-hour driving suspension for being impaired by the propane and given a notice and order to have the propane leak repaired before driving the vehicle again.
On July 16, police noticed a couple sharing an alcoholic beverage on the side of the road in the 12600 block of Highway 101 in Madeira Park. The female was found to be sober, but the male, who was clearly intoxicated, was arrested and issued a ticket for public intoxication. For his own safety, he was transported to cells until sober. The female was allowed to go home.
On July 16, police were called to a theft in progress after a suspect stole two large bags full of empty cans from a business in the 5600 block of Highway 101. The male fled on foot and, with help from witnesses who called in with descriptions and direction on travel, was located in the 5500 block of Periwinkle Lane in Sechelt.
The male was arrested for theft under $5,000.
On July 16, police were advised of an on-going traffic concern on North Road in Gibsons.
A concerned resident reported an increasing number of senior citizens riding motorized wheelchairs in the curb lane, both with and against the flow of traffic, and seeing some near misses when vehicles use the curb lane in an attempt to pass other vehicles. Motorized wheelchair users are classified as pedestrians and should be using sidewalks to travel when available.
On July 16, a possible impaired driver was reported heading southbound in the 15400 block of Highway 101 after it the vehicle was witnessed zig-zagging on the road and honking for no apparent reason. Police located the suspect vehicle in Halfmoon Bay and spoke with the driver who admitted to having consumed alcohol a few hours prior. The driver was given a roadside alcohol-screening test, which resulted in a "warn" reading. The driver was issued a three-day immediate roadside prohibition.
On July 17, police assisted the Gibsons fire department with a report of fire at a business near Gibsons Way and School Road. The fire department found a sofa chair, blackened and smoldering, outside the business. Fortunately, the intentional fire did not spread and no other damage was reported. The file is still under investigation.
On July 18, police noted a vehicle parked in the 12900 block of Shark Lane in Madeira Park that then drove away in the dark without its lights on. The vehicle was pulled over and the driver, who was exhibiting signs of intoxication, was asked to take a roadside alcohol-screening test. The driver, who did admit to consuming alcohol a couple of hours earlier, refused. The driver was advised that refusing to take the test would result in the same penalty as a "fail," treading, but the driver continued to refuse. The driver was issued a 90-day immediate roadside prohibition and his vehicle was impounded for 30 days.
On July 18, police witnessed a vehicle speeding southbound on Pratt Road in Gibsons and using radar, determined the vehicle to be accelerating from over 90 km/h to 110 km/h in a 50-km zone.
The vehicle was pulled over and police also noted that all four tires were bald.
The driver, who was not impaired, was issued a violation ticket for excessive speed, a notice and order for the bald tires had his licence plates seized.
On July 20, police were dispatched to a report of several cows wandering around the neighbourhood around Gale Avenue North in Sechelt. Police were able to locate the owner of the cows and wrangled them back into their pasture.
On July 20, at approximately 1 a.m. police responded to a report of mischief that had just occurred in the 5200 block of Highway 101. The complainant was walking his dogs when he heard a loud crash. He went to the source of the noise and noticed four individuals, two males and two females in the area, and that a sign for a local bed and breakfast had been damaged. The four suspects ran from the scene when he threatened to call police.
One of the male suspects is described as Caucasian, 20-years-old, 5'10, wearing a black shirt and khaki shorts and backpack. One of the females was described as 20-years-old, with long dark hair and wearing a white shirt. He was unable to provide descriptions of the other suspects.
On July 21, police were conducting patrols on Mason Road, when they noted a vehicle traveling at 75km/h in a 50km/h zone. The vehicle was pulled over and the driver provided a false name to police. Police were able to identify the driver and found that he had warrants out of Vernon for assault with a weapon and was a prohibited driver. The driver was arrested for the warrants, as well, was charged for obstruction of a police officer and driving while prohibited.
On July 22, Roberts Creek fire department called police to report that a Coast Reporter newspaper box had been burned. A witness reported seeing smoke coming from the box and used his morning coffee to extinguish the burning papers inside the box. Another witness heard fireworks being set off at approximately midnight and a car speeding off, and believes this might have been the cause of the fire. Anyone with information on this matter are urged to call Const. Mengerink at 604-885-2266.
- Submitted
