SUNDRE – The local RCMP department received 41 calls for service between Jan. 22-28.
Among those files, said detachment commander Sgt. Trent Sperlie, was a follow-up on a matter brought forward by the Calgary Police Service (CPS).
Local Mounties carried out an arrest warrant on behalf of CPS over an individual’s failure to appear in court over a Traffic Safety Act violation, serving as a reminder about the importance of not neglecting otherwise mundane matters like a traffic ticket that left unchecked can become a much more burdensome legal headache.
In a bizarre and odorous case of vandalism made personal that occurred in town overnight on Jan. 23-24, police also filed a report about a break and enter with mischief in which a culprit urinated on furniture inside of a residence that did not have any surveillance cameras equipped, the sergeant said on Jan. 29 during a phone interview.
“Somebody had come home to that, and then they reported it,” he said.
“The situation is known to us, so we do have somebody in mind,” the sergeant said, adding when asked that police did not yet officially have any suspects.
Also being looked into is a domestic related harassment complaint stemming from an incident in town, while an unrelated incident of uttering threats was also still being investigated, he said.
As well, a report of assault did not lead to any charges.
“Both the victim and the offender were known to each other and no charges were laid,” the sergeant said, adding officer discretion was used in that situation.
On Friday, Jan. 26 a window was smashed out of a motor home along 3rd Avenue NE in what police filed as a case of mischief.
Police had also responded on Monday, Jan. 22 to a request to remove an unwanted person from a residence in town.
“Alcohol was a factor,” he said.
Asked if the person involved had been trespassing or if they’d perhaps overstayed an invitation, he said, “I think that’s more of the case, that they just wore out their welcome there.”
That situation was also resolved through the officer’s discretion, with the individual who was asked to leave complying without any charges being laid, he said.
“And arrangements were made for transportation of the subject of the complaint,” he said.
Additionally, the department responded to two mental health calls. Although police are generally unable to provide specific details about these kinds of situations due to the sensitive nature of such private matters, the sergeant was nevertheless able to confirm neither of the individuals were taken into custody or brought to a health-care facility for an evaluation or monitoring.
“There was no apprehensions on either of these,” he said.
One motor vehicle collision that was called in on the evening of Jan. 22 involved a car that went through a stop sign along Range Road 44 and struck a pickup that was hauling bales of hay.
Although there were no life-threatening injuries, Sperlie said one of the vehicle’s occupants was brought to hospital just as a precaution. A ticket for failing to obey a traffic control device was subsequently issued to the driver of the car, he said, adding neither drugs or alcohol or road conditions were believe to be factors.
There were also four other vehicle collisions, but three of them were with deer, while another involved two vehicles on Main Avenue that left one in need of a tow. That happened to unfold when local RCMP had their hands full with the murder investigation, he said.
“When we get an investigation like that, we get depleted of resources almost instantly,” he said, adding when asked that no tickets were issued in that collision that left a pickup truck with damage on its front right end and a smaller car that sustained damage on the left front fender as well as a portion of the driver’s door.
Wrapping up his recap of police activity highlights for that week, the sergeant also mentioned a complaint that was received on Jan. 23 about a group of people who were fishing out of season right in Sundre near the Red Deer River bridge. But by the time Mounties arrived at the scene to investigate, the group was already gone, he said.
Aside from unlawfully fishing out of season, anyone should be extremely cautious about the potential hazard of stepping out onto river ice following the recent warm weather.
“I’m not an expert on ice safety but I wouldn’t suspect that with the warm weather we’ve had, that that ice would be even remotely close to safe to be on,” he said.
Residents with any information about these or other incidents are encouraged to contact the Sundre RCMP’s complaint line at 403-638-3655.
Alternatively, information may also be provided anonymously by contacting Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), online at www.P3Tips.com or by using the P3 Tips app available through the Apple App or Google Play Store.
