Clearwater RCMP responded to 28 calls for service this past week including a rental vehicle crash and arrest of a male suspect known to police and the arrest of a person disturbing the peace in a residential area, say police.
Clearwater RCMP detachment commander Sgt. Grant Simpson said on Monday April 8, 2024, at about 11:30 p.m. Const. Klassen observed a U-Haul van bearing Arizona license plates southbound on Highway 5 near Round Top Road. This matched a U-Haul that Const. Klassen had seen earlier in the night at a well-known residence on Jenkins Road in Blackpool.
The van reportedly began driving into oncoming traffic, travelling at nearly twice the speed limit, and then fled up Lemieux Creek Road. Mounties allege the male driver crashed the U-Haul in the 3000 block of Lemieux Creek Road, jumped out and ran, dropping a bag which contained a handgun magazine, latex gloves, laser pointer, flashlight, smoke bomb, walkie talkies, GPS, and a drone. Simpson said a search of the property and residence did not locate the driver.
“At 2:15 p.m the following day Const. Meyer and Sgt. Simpson located and arrested the male suspect … walking down Lemieux Creek Road in the same clothing that he was wearing when he ran from police the night before,” said Simpson, noting several charges have been laid against the inidividual, who has been remanded in custody while the investigation continues.
Simpson said on Wednesday, April 10 at 11:30 p.m. Const. Meyer was conducting patrols around Clearwater when he observed two vehicles with lights on over at the skate and basketball park on Murtle Crescent. Const. Meyer spoke to occupants outside who advised they were looking for keys they had lost near the basketball court.
“Const. Meyer requested the males clean up the cans around their vehicles that were littered onto the ground. A young male exited one of the vehicle’s passenger seats. He smelled of liquor and immediately became confrontational with police request,” said Simpson, noting the male challenged police to arrest him.
Simpson said officers arrested the individual, and later released him to a local resident after he agologized for his initial reaction to police. which he said was due to previous difficult encounters with RCMP and alcohol consumption.
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