SUNDRE – An impaired driving investigation that ultimately led to police determining a motorist was intoxicated was among dozens of files recently handled by the local RCMP detachment.
Over the week spanning from Tuesday, Nov. 28 to Monday, Dec. 4, Sundre Mounties logged a total of 60 investigation files, said the detachment’s acting commander, Sgt. Randy Poon.
The sergeant reported that during the early morning hours of Wednesday, Nov. 29, a police patrol noticed a suspicious male in town with a subsequent investigation confirming the male had outstanding warrants.
“He was arrested and released for his next court date,” said Poon.
The following night on Thursday, Nov. 30, a Ford F-450 that was parked at the Mountain View Inn and Suites was broken into and tools were stolen. There at the time of the sergeant’s report were no suspects.
On Friday, Dec. 1, a STARS air ambulance was dispatched west of the former Bergen Store to transport to Calgary Foothills Hospital a driver who suffered serious injuries and was extricated from a rolled vehicle by members of the Sundre Fire Department.
“The cause of the rollover is a possible animal crossing in front of the vehicle,” said Poon, adding the “collision is considered non-criminal.”
There were two other reported deer strikes on Dec. 1, as well as another on Saturday, Dec. 2, he said.
Out of 13 total traffic collisions reported in the area over the span of the week, 10 of them involved an animal, he said.
On Saturday, Dec. 2, police received a report of a stolen vehicle – a 2005 Ford F-350 with a side-by-side Kawasaki KRX 1000 in the box – near Range Road 74 and Township Road 331 near Bearberry, he said.
Overnight on Sunday, Dec. 3, a motorist failed a sobriety test.
“The vehicle was seen leaving a parking lot at a high rate of speed in the Town of Sundre,” he said.
“Investigation showed the driver to be intoxicated and an immediate roadside suspension issued,” he said, adding the vehicle was towed and an additional Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Regulation ticket was issued.
Police also conducted 27 traffic stops in town on Dec. 3 between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m.
“Most of the traffic infractions involve not stopping at the stop signs,” he said, referring to the new traffic control measures along Main Avenue that were recently installed on a temporary basis until Alberta Transportation completes the high-load corridors overlay project with permanent concrete mini-roundabouts next year.
“A combination of tickets and warnings were issued that day,” he said.
Additionally, as a result of a complaint of speeding motorists along the Red Deer River Bridge, police increased patrols, he said, adding officers also issued traffic violations and warnings.
Residents with any information about these or any 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.
