Summer is the buzz… of ATVs

Now that we can safely say summer is here the weekly police beat would not be complete if did not begin, end, or contain an article about a complaint or an incident involving an All Terrain Vehicle. This week we begin with one.
This past Wednesday afternoon at 4:20 p.m. while police were driving along Golo Road they found themselves sharing the road with a red Honda ATV which, instead of being on the road, should have been operating along the trail next to the road. Police observed the ATV turn from the road into a private driveway where they pulled in behind and spoke to the ATV operator who was not wearing a helmet. After a short conversation with the 36-year-old Fort Nelson man, police observed signs the operator appeared to be intoxicated. Using an approved screening device police obtained roadside breath samples which resulted in failure indications. Police detained the ATV operator for impaired driving and seated him in the back seat of the police truck. Almost immediately police detected the odour of marihuana inside the police truck. When police asked the ATV operator about this he admitted he had some marihuana concealed in his sock. Police removed the man from the police vehicle and retrieved the small amount of marihuana from his sock. Police transported the ATV operator to the police office where he provided two breath samples of 90 mgs. Police also learned the man was currently prohibited from driving. In the end police impounded the man’s ATV and issued him with an Administrative Driving Prohibition, a 24-hour prohibition from driving, numerous Motor Vehicle Act traffic tickets and a Promise to Appear in court to answer charges of driving while prohibited.

Pop lead to prohibition
Just over an hour later police were busy dealing with another drug impaired driver on the Alaska Highway at KM410. At 5:45 p.m. police stopped a grey 2008 GMC Sierra truck with three males on board. While speaking with the driver police detected the odour of marihuana emanating from within the vehicle. Based on this not so unusual turn of events police detained all three occupants of the vehicle for possession of a controlled substance. When asked about this the 33-year-old driver from Stony Plain, AB, admitted he had been recently smoking marihuana. While looking through the truck police located several items of drug paraphernalia along with a small amount of marihuana. After conducting several roadside Standard Field Sobriety Tests police issued the driver with a 24-hour prohibition from driving and impounded the vehicle at the same time.

Drunk or Sober…
There is really no excuse for grown adults to be relieving themselves in public on sidewalks, up against walls downtown, or behind parked vehicles, in many cases in plain view of those of us who are toilet trained and find the practice most distasteful and will not hesitate to call police. This past Tuesday afternoon at 6:40 p.m. police tossed just such a fellow in jail for this distasteful infraction when it was brought to their attention the intoxicated 46-year-old man was relieving himself in plain view of everyone right in front of the Bluebell Motel.

Phantom Fighters?
The fight that was over when police arrived or never was. Also last Wednesday evening at 7:07 p.m. police received an anonymous report of six males yelling and punching each other in the A&W parking lot. Police attended immediately to find absolutely nothing amiss taking place, let alone a fight or the aftermath thereof. Police patrolled the neighbourhood for several minutes without locating anyone that appeared to have been involved in a fight.
Thirty One minutes later at 7:38 p.m. police received another anonymous complaint reporting two men were fighting outside Dan’s Pub. Police quickly attended locating two males, one of which told police he had been punched in the face by one of his co workers. In total police located and spoke to four males between the ages of 23 and 26 all from Grand Cache and Edmonton directly and indirectly involved in the incident. Three of the males blamed the fourth male who told police he had been punched in the face for starting the fight. When asked by police if they wished to provide police with statements regarding the incident all four males declined stating they did not wish to pursue charges in relation to the event. As it was clear all four individuals had been drinking police provided them with transportation back to their hotel advising them to stay there and not venture out anymore this evening.
Thursday afternoon at 3:28 p.m. police received a complaint that 4 ATV’s, some with operators not wearing helmets driving back and forth along Hwy #97 in front of the Recreation Center racing other vehicles using the road. Police attended to the location locating only one ATV in the area who’s operator denied operating his ATV on the highway. The 16 year old man advised police he and his friends who had already left the area were riding their ATV’s around the area, but not on the highway.
Less than two hours later police were called to 41 st Street and 53rd Avenue E when a woman reported her vehicle had been struck by an ATV being operated on the street. The ATV operator failed to remain at the scene fleeing the area striking a Yield sign as he fled the area with other four other ATV’s. Other person’s, including an off duty RCMP member who witnessed the event provided information to attending police as to what they had observed. As a result of this information police have tentatively identified the 16 year old youth operating the ATV who later fled from police on his ATV when they attempted to stop him. Police continue to investigate this incident and will be speaking with the youth operating the ATV.
Just two hours into June and the police had their first impaired driver of the new month. At 2:05 a.m. police observed a Red 2007 Dodge Truck without it’s taillights illuminated and it’s right turn signal activated traveling NB along 50th Avenue North. Police who were traveling behind the truck noted even though the driver was signaling a right turn he did not turn right as he passed 46th Street. Police followed the vehicle as it approached the stop sign at Airport Drive and stopped. The driver then made a very wide righthand turn onto Airport Drive drifting well into the opposite lanes before returning to his proper lane of travel. At this point police turned on their emergency lights summoning the driver to pull over and stop his vehicle. Almost immediately the truck drove up onto the sidewalk where it continued for a couple of meters before returning to the road and stopping. While speaking with the 74 year old Fort Nelson man driving the vehicle police clearly detected the odor of liquor from within the vehicle. When asked about this the driver admitted he had recently consumed two beers. As a result of these observations police requested the driver to provide samples of his breath into an approved roadside screening device which after several attempts the driver failed to do. As a result of failing to provide adequate breath samples police issued the driver with an 90 day Immediate Roadside Prohibition from driving impounding his vehicle for 30 days. Police also issued the driver with a traffic ticket for No Drivers License and Failing to have his vehicle equipped with the required approved ignition interlock device.
Less than half an hour later at 2:38 a.m. police were dealing with another impaired driver, this time operating a stolen ATV and packing large industrial type battery charger. Police stopped the Yellow Bombardier ATV on 50th Avenue North and spoke to the 24 year old male driver and his 19 year old female passenger. The 24 year male operating the ATV told police his friend let him borrow the ATV and battery charger. However this turned out to not be exactly the truth as police were informed by the owner of the ATV and battery charger that he gave no such permission for the 24 year old man to be in possession of his ATV or battery charger. If things could not get any worse for the 24 year old man police observed he appeared to have been drinking. As a result of these observations police obtained two roadside breath samples from the 24 year old man both resulting in failure indications. Police impounded the ATV issuing the 24 year old man with a 90 day Immediate Roadside Prohibition from driving and an Appearance Notice to appear in court to answer charges of possession of stolen property.
Later on June 01 st at 7:40 p.m. police received a report of a small White ATV tearing around the FNSS athletic field. The complainant was concerned the ATV was going to damage the playing fields with this type of behavior. Police attended however the ATV was no where to be found. Less than an hour later police were called to Spruce Avenue when it was reported 3 ATV’s were tearing around the neighborhood streets. Police attended to the area, however were unable to locate the offending ATV’s.