Ponoka RCMP have been kept quite busy this past week, even with the ridiculously cold temperatures and the at times poor winter driving conditions.
On Dec. 7, police received a complaint of a theft of a truck from a local business in the industrial park, which had just occurred. An unknown suspect stole the running pickup. Members were notified and immediate patrols were made as well as surrounding detachments were notified. This file is still under investigation.
On Dec. 8, Ponoka RCMP had to deal with a pair of complaints involving intoxicated people.
The first was for a male at a local bar who was trying to fight with other patrons. The male was removed from the bar without incident and arrested on three counts of failure to comply with previous conditions on other matters that are before the courts. He is slated to appear in court on these latest charges on Dec. 16.
The second involved a female that allegedly had a bottle of alcohol with her while at a local fast food restuarant. An RCMP member responded to find the individual had thrown up in the restaurant and then fell asleep. She was arrested without incident for causing a disturbance. Once she sobered up, she was released.
On Dec. 9, RCMP received a complaint that a vehicle was in a ditch on Range Road 245 near Highway 53 with the driver still on scene. The individual was attempting to get the vehicle out of the ditch by rocking it back and forth. Members attended the scene and found that the male driver had been drinking. The vehicle was siezed for seven days and a roadside driving suspension was issued to the male.
On Dec. 10, a member of the Ponoka Integrated Traffic Unit (ITU) performed a traffic stop on a speeding vehicle on Highway 2 near Morningside. Once the member reached the vehicle, the driver admitted to drinking and due to only having a Graduated Driving Licence, the vehicle was seized for seven days.
Also on that day, Ponoka RCMP were called to an assault in progress at a residence in town. Further investigation saw a lone male charged with 14 separate offences. These include assault with a weapon, forcible confinement, criminal harassment, failure to comply with conditions, dangerous driving, mischief and theft.
The man is scheduled to make his first appearance on the charges in Ponoka Provincial Court on Dec. 13.
Lastly, on Dec. 11, police responded to a complaint of a break and enter at a residence under construction in the area of Township Road 420 and Highway 815.
Upon arriving, officers noted that fuel, tools and some golf equipment were stolen from the property. The file remains under investigation.
If anyone has information on these or any other crimes, you are urged to contact the Ponoka RCMP detachment at (403) 783-4472. If you want to remain anonymous, you can contact CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or via the internet at www.tipsubmit.com.
You do not have to reveal your identity to CrimeStoppers and if you provide information to Crime Stoppers that leads to an arrest, you may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $2,000.