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Drunk driver caught speeding in Whistler school zone

RCMP news: bike thefts continue, intoxicated driver arrested in Pemberton
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What started as a verbal warning turned into an immediate roadside prohibition for a Whistler man who was caught driving drunk in a school zone on Friday, Nov. 7.

At around 12:30 p.m., RCMP observed a driver "break extremely hard" upon noticing a police vehicle parked on Lorimer Road near Myrtle Philip Community School, said Staff Sgt. Steve LeClair. Initially, the officer on the scene intended to give the driver a verbal warning for speeding in a 30km/h zone, but noticed the 24-year-old exhibited "signs of impairment and had an overpowering odour of liquor on his breath," LeClair said.

The man told police he had his last drink the night before, although he failed two separate Breathalyzer tests.

"It's of note that you've got somebody who's intoxicated at noon in a school zone," LeClair added.

The man's vehicle was impounded and he was issued a 90-day roadside prohibition.

'Grossly intoxicated' driver arrested, vomits in back of police car

A North Vancouver man should be expecting a cleaning bill from local RCMP after he was arrested for drunk driving and subsequently threw up in the back of a police car.

Just before 10 p.m. last Tuesday, Nov. 4, police observed a blue SUV speeding around the Portage Road traffic circle in Pemberton before "squealing tires and hitting the curb," LeClair said.

Officers initiated a traffic stop, after which they observed the driver and driver's side of the vehicle "covered in vomit," LeClair noted, adding that the man had a strong odour of liquor on his breath, bloodshot, watery eyes and exhibited very poor balance.

The 34-year-old refused to provide a breath sample and was arrested before being taken to Pemberton cells.

"While being transported, he vomited all over the backseat of the police vehicle before passing out," said LeClair.

"He was grossly intoxicated and unable to care for himself."

Medical personnel attended to the man at the Pemberton detachment, where he was deemed fit for incarceration. He was later taken to Whistler cells before his release.

Bike thefts continue in Whistler

The mountain biking season may be over, but things are just ramping up for local police, who have been dealing with a string of recent thefts throughout Whistler.

Following a recent report of four break-ins in Alpine Meadows, police were dispatched to a home on Cedar Springs Road last Tuesday, Nov. 4 after a resident said a garage had been accessed and a $3,000 Trek Fuel EX mountain bike stolen.

The complainant also said a second attempted entry was made to a sliding rear window.

The investigation is ongoing.

The same day, a woman called Whistler police to report that her landlord's overhead garage door was left open at a house on Rainbow Drive and she "highly suspected that his bike was stolen overnight" while he was away on vacation, according to Staff Sgt. Steve LeClair.

The RCMP's forensic identification team attended the scene, and the investigation continues.

Two more bikes were reported stolen on Friday, Nov. 7 from in front of a house on Mckeevers Place.

A silver, red and black Specialized bike valued at $1,600 was reported stolen, along with a brown Norco bike, estimated at $100. Both bikes were allegedly locked up at the time of the incident and the locks were seized for possible tool marks.

Shortly after, the Norco bike was recovered on Timber Lane close to the location of another bike theft.