Whistler RCMP oversaw a relatively tame New Year's Eve in the village this year, with not one violent incident reported.
Officers lodged only 10 prisoners in detention cells over the course of the night, which was low compared to past years, said Staff Sgt. Steve LeClair.
The number of bylaw tickets issued was similar to 2012, which was itself considered a quiet night by historical standards. Police handed out 46 bylaw tickets for open liquor, two tickets for public intoxication, two for public urination, two for swearing in public and one for obstruction this year. A total of 56 bylaw tickets were issued on New Year's Eve 2012.
"From a policing perspective it's probably been the most enjoyable New Year's Eve that I've worked up here," said LeClair on his seventh New Year's Eve in the resort. "People were for the most part law abiding, and it was a nice vibe in the village."
As it's done for several years, the municipality offered a range of family-friendly activities to ring in 2014, attracting 2,500 ticketed guests at Millennium Place and the Whistler Conference Centre. New Year's Eve arrest figures have been on the decline in Whistler in recent years.
LeClair believes the family-focused activities played a role in attracting well-behaved revellers to the Village.
"I think it definitely has an impact on the people we're getting here," he said. "It's a lot of young families and we're certainly not seeing a demographic of young troublemakers, we're seeing a lot of young people just enjoying themselves."
Coroners service investigating hot tub death
The BC Ambulance Service and the BC Coroners Service confirmed a man died on Saturday, Jan. 4 after he was discovered in a hot tub at Lost Lake Lodge.
Ben Mittelsteadt, a spokesperson with the ambulance service, said paramedics were dispatched to the lodge just before 4 p.m. after the man was discovered submerged and alone in the hot tub.
A BC Ambulance helicopter was dispatched to the Whistler Health Clinic so he could be transferred to hospital in Vancouver for emergency care. Mittelsteadt said the patient was taken by ambulance to the clinic.
Barb McLintock of the coroner's service confirmed that her office is investigating the death.
"At this point (there's) no suggestion of violence or anything suspicious at all," wrote McLintock in an email.
The man's name, age and hometown have not yet been released.
- John French
Estimated $10,000 worth of valuables stolen, occupants still in home
A residence on Casabella Crescent was reportedly broken into the evening of Dec. 31 while occupants were gathered upstairs, according to police. It appears the suspect entered unnoticed through an open ground floor balcony door. Two jewelry pouches, a wallet, a black Gucci bag, passport and iPhone were reported stolen. The total estimated value of the stolen items is $10,000, LeClair said.
The RCMP's forensic team attended the scene, and the investigation is ongoing.
Two vehicle break-ins reported
A woman's New Year got off on a sour note after she reported her vehicle was broken into on Jan. 1.
The complainant told RCMP her car was in a visitor's parking lot for less than two hours at a complex on Northlands Boulevard before she discovered a smashed rear window at about 2:15 p.m.
The items reported stolen were two Macbook computers, a black iPod and a leather purse.
The following day a second break-in was reported to police at the same Northalnds Boulevard location.
A bag containing clothes and a pair of shoes was stolen, but later found with traces of blood on it. Police are analyzing the physical evidence, RCMP said.
