Staff reporter
It was a case of good news, bad news for the Rimbey RCMP over Halloween, and luckily there was more good than bad.
In the early hours of Oct. 31, a white Pontiac Grand Am being driven at a high rate of speed left the road on 51st Street, jumped the curb and proceeded down the sidewalk causing significant damage to three businesses including the Parkland Video Store, Jack’s Auto Repair and Anderson’s Service.
“There were three adults - one female and two males - who were returning from a Halloween party believed to be in the Ponoka area, and while travelling through Rimbey at a high rate of speed, went through the four-way stop, went off the road resulting in the subsequent damages,” said Sgt. Mark Groves, who added speed and alcohol are believed to be factors in the incident.
“A car came from the north and sideswiped my building. I found out when I came to work at about 8:30,” said George Anderson of Anderson’s Service who’s building sustained significant damages. “It makes me very upset. Times are tough as it is without having to rebuild your building.”
“At 3:20 Saturday morning, my burglar alarm went off, I came to town and I saw what I saw. There was a white Pontiac car parked in front of Rimbey Ford and it was totaled off. I phoned the police and in about five or ten minutes they showed up,” added Jack Hummel of Jack’s auto Repair. “I would think they were going pretty fast. From where the two tires came off, the car skidded at least 100 yards. The front tire was buckled under and the back wheel was completely gone.”
Hummel said he didn’t see the driver or any passengers and had no estimate for his building, which was also heavily damaged.
In addition, a glass door leading into the Parkland Video Store was shattered when the vehicle hit a sign post that was catapulted through the window while a newer model van parked for the evening in front of Anderson’s Service was also clipped and heavily damaged.
According to Groves, the driver, a 25-year-old resident of Calgary, was arrested nearby and charged with dangerous driving with a pending court date set for Dec. 4 in Rimbey.
Aside from that incident however, Groves said the remainder of the day and night went as smooth as silk.
“Halloween night was a blast. It was a pleasure to see all the trick or treaters out, acting in a safe manner,” he said. “We did not have any issues or subsequent complaints that arose from the evening of fun. I was very proud of the citizens and the way parents were escorting their children. Even the older kids had some guardians with them which was a nice thing to see.”
Additionally, Groves said the Detachment received no complaints from the public regarding treats that may have appeared to be tampered with, including taking a close look at the loot his own children brought home.
“It sounds like a good time was had by all,” he added. “Everyone acted very responsibly and everything went off without any hitches.”