Armed robbery at Castlegar gas station
Sunday night saw an armed robbery at the Mowhawk gas station on Columbia Avenue. Police were called at around 9:20 p.m. “A lone male suspect entered the gas station wearing a scarf covering his face,” said Castlegar RCMP Sgt. Laurel Mathew. “The employee asked the male to remove the face covering, but instead, the suspect […]
Eleven children injured in Scottish school shooting; two teenagers detained
Two individuals are in custody after eleven secondary school students were injured in a firearms incident near a school Auchinleck Academy, in East Ayrshire, Scotland, yesterday afternoon. Police have said they are carrying out “extensive enquiries” into the incident, which reportedly involved an air gun or BB gun. One pupil said he was walking near the school during the lunch […]
Canadian charged with smuggling cocaine
A 39-year-old Canadian appeared in Spokane court last Thursday after being arrested near the Laurier / Cascade border crossing with 71 pounds of cocaine. Jonathan Darren Smith was charged after United States Customs and Border Patrol agents saw him frantically climbing a snow embankment at the edge of Highway 395. The agents had been alerted […]
Man accused of feeding bears to protect his grow op pleads not guilty
Self –proclaimed “bear dude” Allen Piche entered a not guilty plea this past Tuesday in Grand Forks Provincial Court, in relation to the possession of marijuana charges stemming from a raid on his property that uncovered a grow-op at Christina Lake last summer. Piche’s other charge concerning the feeding of up to two dozen […]
RCMP and Rooney family reach out once more for help to find missing man, Owen
Australian native, Owen Kiernan Rooney, disappeared six months ago today but his family and police are not giving up hope. We are once again asking for the public’s help in locating Owen. Efforts to date have garnered many tips, however, all plausible leads have now been exhausted. Owen was last seen at the Grand Forks […]
RCMP: Child abduction scare "unfounded"
Police are rescinding a public warning sent out earlier today after determining a “child abduction” did not, in fact, take place. “We can now confirm that this incident is unfounded,” said RCMP Inspector Nick Romanchuk. “During the early stages of our investigation, we felt that it was imperative that we forward this information to the […]
Ipswich, England serial murders to be adapted into 'musical'
The Ipswich serial murders, in which five female prostitutes were killed in Ipswich, Suffolk, England, are to be turned into a show entitled London Road. The “documentary musical” is expected to debut in the Royal National Theatre in London this April. The concept has been criticised. When ITN conducted some vox populi interviews, members of the public reacted negatively: “[A]lmost makes it seem a bit light-hearted, doesn’t it? […]
It starts today: distracted drivers targeted by RCMP
Traffic services units throughout the West Kootenay will join other traffic units across the province as they focus on distracted drivers throughout the month of February. Despite the new legislation banning the use of cell phones and other handheld electronic devices while driving, police have noticed more drivers taking chances, talking and texting while driving. […]
Cops, kids and community - CPEC work begins
Preventing crime by connecting with kids – that’s the baseline goal of a new RCMP-led initiative at work in Castlegar. Today saw one of the first meetings of a group of stakeholders engaged in the initiative, which labours under the weighty moniker Community Policing Education Continuum (CPEC). Spearheaded by RCMP Cpl. Marty Kooiman, CPEC […]
Two men attacked in hot springs pool in Nakusp
Police believe the motive for a beating in Nakusp on Dec. 29 was one of hate and ignorance relating to the victim’s sexual orientation. Nakusp RCMP reported Tuesday that two men were attacked at St. Leon’s Hot Springs outside Nakusp three weeks ago after they were identified as a gay couple. On Dec. 29, 2010 […]