This week Rimbey RCMP responded to 40 calls for service. Highlights include impaired drivers, break and enters, assault and other criminal matters.
Alcohol factor in accident
On October 10, at approximately 10:45 p.m., a 2007 Ford F350 departed a local pub after the occupants consumed their fair share. Soon afterwards, police, EMS and the fire department personnel attended a crash where the same truck was found wrapped around a pole near Leedale Road. The driver, a 32-year- old man from Lacombe, was air lifted by STARS Air Ambulance to Edmonton for major life threatening injuries. The passenger of the truck was not seriously injured. Alcohol was the factor in this case. Charges for impaired driving are pending.
Assault occurs at party
On October 12, a party went bad at a local residence where a 17-year-old took exception to a 25-year-old out-of-towner stealing his iPod and a fight broke out. Following the scuffle, a 17-year-old female also got smacked. Mounties attended the scene and gave the 25-year-old a free ride to the crow bar hotel for the night. The accused has been charged with assault.
Police investigate theft
Police are actively investigating the theft of a 2011 Honda 400 ATV, red in color, which was stolen from the Medicine Lake area. While this investigation is ongoing, police located several other stolen vehicles, trailers and an ATV this week. Charges have been laid in some cases.
Impaired driver apprehended
RCMP continue to target impaired drivers in the community in an effort to make our roads safer. A new driver found out the hard way that when your license conditions state “No alcohol”... that means no alcohol...period. A 25-year-old man, who currently holds a GDL license was observed by an officer swerving back and forth in the driving lane and was subsequently stopped. The male advised he had drunk a beer that night and provided a roadside breath sample to the officer. The breath test confirmed he had alcohol in his system so he received an automatic 30-day license suspension and his vehicle was impounded for seven days.
Wanted persons arrested
Numerous arrests were made this week by police. In several cases, wanted persons were taken into custody. If you are wanted, you may wish to bypass Rimbey...just saying.
Driver in crash airlifted by STARS Air
Police, fire and EMS attended a crash west of Rimbey on Highway 53 at Range Road 40. A westbound car ran into a parked semi-trailer truck in the late evening hours of October 16. The driver of the car was air lifted by STARS Air Ambulance to Edmonton for serious but non-life threatening injuries and is currently in stable condition. Speed and alcohol were not a factor in this case.
Hunters need to follow rules
Hunting season is just around the corner and police are seizing numerous game cameras that have been illegally placed on private property without permission. Please use respect and only enter onto lands where you have permission to do so. Always leave gates as you have found them. Alberta Fish and Wildlife officers and Mounties will be out checking hunters throughout the hunting season. Hunters can expect random check stops and to be checked in the field to ensure all the safety and licensing rules are being followed. Have a safe and enjoyable hunt.
Const. Luke Halvorson’s adventures
When Const. Halvorson first arrived in Rimbey in 2010 from the Lower Mainland he wasn’t sure about things “west of the 5th” having come from a place where all the streets and alleyways are paved, cell phone coverage is never an issue and it never snows. In all his years of service, he had never encountered anything like what he described as “unbelievable”. In his first month, while patrolling out west, he came across a small herd of fierce animals on the road. He described them as having fiery red eyes, blowing steam from their nostrils and appearing like they would attack him at any moment. From the safety of his patrol car he activated the siren and the beasts fled into the bush out of sight. Since then, Const. Halvorson has become very accustomed to encountering these critters occasionally on the roads throughout the entire detachment area. Having several years’ experience now under his belt, he no longer fears these creatures and has since been correctly calling them “calves” instead of “baby cows”.