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Rimbey RCMP respond to 40 calls last week

Rimbey RCMP detachment responded to 40 calls for service this week
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On April 23 on Highway 53 about a mile from Highway 771

Rimbey RCMP detachment responded to 40 calls for service this week, but due to the sensitivity of some matters, we cannot report on all cases.

Drug dealer charged

At approximately 2:00 a.m., an officer patrolling Highway 20 clocked a speeding truck going over 140 km/hr. on his way to Rimbey. When the officer attempted to stop the vehicle it began to swerve all over the roadway before coming to a complete stop. The driver, a 48-year-old man, a resident of Red Deer, did not hold a valid driver's license and was on a cell phone. The man, who had been recently charged for drug trafficking, was also prohibited from being in possession of a cell phone. The investigating officer located drug paraphernalia, including cocaine, cash and scales in the vehicle.

The accused, was arrested and transported to jail and his vehicle seized. The driver has been charged with multiple criminal counts, including possession of cocaine for the purpose of drug trafficking and breaching court orders. A Police Service Dog was called in to search the highway where the vehicle began swerving and more bags of cocaine were located that the driver had thrown out before he stopped for police. Police will continue to crack down on the illegal drugs coming to town...no pun intended.

Impaired driving charges pending

At approximately 1:30 p.m., an eastbound pickup truck deviated from the roadway and went into the ditch at a high speed. The truck then launched itself off an approach which sent the Chevrolet truck flying through the air where it subsequently rolled three times in the ditch before coming to rest upside down near a small lake. Fortunately, other motorists who witnessed the crash were able to cut the man free, who was hanging from his seat belt, out of the crushed vehicle in the event it burst into flames as the man was covered in gasoline leaking from the vehicle. Police, EMS and Fire Department personnel quickly responded to the scene. The driver, a 32 year old man, a resident of Ponoka, was transported by EMS to Rimbey Hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.  During the investigation, it was determined that the man is suspended from driving in Alberta and impaired driving charges are pending the outcome of the investigation.

B.C. resident charged

At approximately midnight, an officer stopped a GMC pickup on Highway 53 near Rimbey after it was observed swerving all over the road. The driver, a 55-year-old man, a resident of Kelowna, British Columbia, was arrested for impaired driving and his vehicle was seized and impounded. The accused provided breath samples of nearly three times the legal limit! The driver has been working in the area doing oilfield work and was driving his company truck at the time of the incident.

Sgt. Groves warns public

In court last week, an impaired driver was convicted of impaired driving. She lost her driving privileges for one year and received a $1,600 fine. This was her first offence. If you were considering getting behind the wheel and driving after partaking your favourite alcoholic beverage, please consider the cost of doing so before you hit the road. Losing your license and $1,600 is the least of your expenses. Lawyer fees could be over $5,000 or even $10,000. Your motor vehicle insurance rates will triple overnight. You will have a criminal record which will affect future job opportunities and any international travelling you may wish to do someday. Lastly, you could kill yourself or someone else! Ask yourself...is it worth it? Don't drink and drive! Rimbey detachment charged 50 drivers criminally last year with impaired driving. That does not include all the 24 hour, three day, seven day or 30 day suspensions issued for having consumed alcohol before driving but below the 80 mg% criminal limit.