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Crankworx keeps RCMP busy

Fewer calls, no violence reported this year
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A busy weekend and a crowd of more than 20,000 Red Bull Joyride spectators kept the RCMP hopping over the weekend, but overall the number of calls was down significantly this year compared to 2010. As well, there were no reports of fights or violence in the village.

"There seemed to be less in the way of assaults (than last year), so all-in-all it was a safer environment," said Staff Sergeant Steve LeClair of the Whistler RCMP. "Again, we increased the presence of police officers and hopefully year after year it pays dividends in public safety."

In total, the RCMP logged 275 files from July 19 to July 26, down from 353 files during the second week of Crankworx in August 2010.

The majority of files were alcohol-related. On Friday night there were 15 individuals arrested for being intoxicated in public and on Saturday night there was 18. Some 137 tickets were handed out for possession of open liquor, eight for consuming alcohol in public, five for minors in possession of alcohol and three for having open liquor in a vehicle. Twelve people received fines for urinating in public and five received fines for biking or skateboarding on the Village Stroll.

One of those arrested for being drunk in public was caught shouting obscenities at the police station and at a police dog in a vehicle. The RCMP arrested the 32-year-old Vancouver man for causing a disturbance, at which point he began making threats to police. He broke the light in his cell and had to be moved to another one so he wouldn't cut himself on broken glass. The next day he was taken before a Justice of the Peace. He is now facing charges for uttering threats, mischief and causing a disturbance.

Several bikes were also reported stolen during the Crankworx festival, continuing the recent trend. Two thieves were caught but it's believed that both instances were crimes of opportunity rather than part of a concerted effort to steal bikes.

In one case a plainclothes police officer observed an individual removing a bike from the back of a vehicle, at approximately 1:10 a.m. on Sunday morning. A 20-year-old Courtenay male was charged with the theft.

In another case, the friend of a man whose bike had been taken on Saturday night detained a 19-year-old Port Coquitlam male until the police arrived. The suspect was intoxicated and RCMP have recommended a charge of possession of stolen property.

People are reminded to safeguard their bikes. Thieves are cutting locks, removing bikes from vehicles and breaking into underground garages and storage areas to take bikes.

Adding insult to injury, a road cyclist was among the victims of theft. A rider who was heading north on Highway 99 towards Pemberton crashed on the side of the road past the Green River Bridge. One pedestrian took the man, who suffered severe cuts in the fall, to the Whistler Health Care Centre, while another took the man's bike and hid it in the forest so he could pick it up later. However, when he returned to the area later that day there was no sign of the bike, a 2006 Giant TCR.

 

Appliances taken from home

At 8:30 a.m. on July 21 the RCMP received a call regarding a break and enter in the Alpine Meadows subdivision. The home was in closure and was not occupied. The thief or thieves made off with a washer, dryer and refrigerator - all older models worth roughly $800. The RCMP have dusted the home for prints and are continuing to investigate.

 

Speeder loses vehicle

A 21-year-old male from Maple Ridge was clocked doing 134 km/h in an 80 km/h zone on July 22. As a result he was given a ticket for excessive speeding and had his vehicle impounded for seven days at his own expense under new provincial laws to curb dangerous driving.