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Surrey resident digs a legal hole

October 27 was a tough day for 23-year-old Surrey resident Joshua Mark Barsalou. At 3:50 a.m. he was pulled over, charged with impaired driving and his vehicle impounded for 24 hours. He was released with a promise to appear. At 6:30 p.m.

October 27 was a tough day for 23-year-old Surrey resident Joshua Mark Barsalou. At 3:50 a.m. he was pulled over, charged with impaired driving and his vehicle impounded for 24 hours. He was released with a promise to appear.

At 6:30 p.m. police responded to a break-in at the Payless Towing Yard beside the day skier lots. Keys and a vehicle were taken. The vehicle belonging to Barsalou.

Earlier in the day a Payless Employee chased a suspect who was able to get away, but the towing yard employee got a good description of the man.

In the meantime the RCMP contacted Barsalou to let him know that his car was taken, and he seemed upset on the phone. He also said he was in the Lower Mainland.

Police officers then drove by the residence where they had dropped Barsalou early that morning and found the missing car outside. Soon after a man who matched the description of the person chased by the Payless employee was spotted outside the residence. Then Barsalou himself was spotted half an hour after he told police he was in the city.

Barsalou now faces charges of impaired driving, driving with blood alcohol over 0.08, break and enter, theft over $5,000 and possession of stolen property. As well, a call to the Surrey detachment regarding the theft resulted in two charges of breach of probation against Barsalou, who was violating the terms of an earlier sentence.

The other man has not been identified yet, but is also facing charges for breaking and entering, theft and possession of stolen property.

 

Ecstasy suspect given several chances to go home

Barsalou was not the only suspect to make things worse for himself last week. On Friday, Oct. 30 the police came across an inebriated man in Whistler Village trying to get into Moe Joe's and advised the door staff there not to let him inside. They pointed the man towards the taxi loop and told him to go home.

He was spotted again two hours later trying to get into Maxx Fish, and was once again told to go home. He seemed to comply, but was found after closing time outside Tommy Africa's, where he was arrested for public intoxication. During a search the police found six ecstasy tablets. The man is now being charged with possession.

A second suspect was arrested for possession of ecstasy on Halloween. RCMP say they found 40 tablets on the suspect.

Overall the RCMP were pleased with Halloween, with just seven arrests for public intoxication - on par with an average Saturday night. The village was busy and the RCMP answered a few noise complaints around town, but otherwise they were pleased with the conduct of bars and the public.