Ponoka News staff
Cases of public intoxication almost reached a record this year during the Ponoka Stampede.
RCMP Staff Sgt. Cameron Chisholm says officers arrested 154 individuals and lodged them in cells at the Ponoka detachment in the course of 10 days. This is almost double the amount from 2013 with 73 lodged in cells.
The last time police had 154 detainees was in 2008.
Police say what is most notable is the extreme cases of public intoxication and culprits urinating and defecating themselves in public.
One individual was lodged in cells for public drunkenness and released when sober, two hours later he was found nearly passed out and urinating himself.
There were six drivers charges with impaired driving during Ponoka Stampede week and police say many of the calls dealt with public intoxication and causing a disturbance and the vast majority of issues were alcohol related.
On June 30 at 5 p.m., a complaint was lodged of a 33-year-old Calgary male passed out in the bathroom floor by the grandstands. RCMP members attended, located the male and arrested him. He was held until sober.
On July 1, at 12:30 a.m. another drunken male was located at the Stampede’s tent city, along Highway 53 near the St. Augustine Catholic School. The Maskwacis man was held until sober.
A man with bear spray was located in the Ponoka Stampede Midway grounds on July 27 at 9:30 p.m. The Maskwacis man was charged with possession of a weapon for dangerous purposes.
Motorcycle Accident
A Sherwood Park female, 43 years old, lost control of her motorcycle on July 1, around 2:30 p.m., and ended up in the ditch just north of Ponoka on Highway 2A. The driver was taken to hospital by EMS to be checked over.
Motorist found with cocaine
Police have charged a 41-year-old Grand Prairie man with possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking after finding several bags of cocaine in his vehicle.
A call originally came to police of an erratic driver in a 2002 Chrysler Town and Country who stopped at a fast food restaurant in Ponoka. Upon arrival police saw a pipe used for smoking drugs.
The man was arrested and his vehicle searched when officers found the cocaine. It was determined he also had two outstanding warrants for his arrest.
Drunken man forgets alias
A man arrested for public intoxication may need to get his memory checked after providing a false name to police during the arrest.
Officers arrested the man June 26 at 1 a.m., when he provided a false name. He was lodged in a cell and when he was being released officers asked him to confirm his name. He provided his real name, which did not match the name provided.
The 44-year-old Maskwacis man was charged with obstruction.
Vehicle driven on rims
Police have charged a 41-year-old Edmonton woman with impaired driving and refusing to supply a blood-alcohol sample June 28 at 3 a.m. after driving into oncoming traffic.
She was stopped in a black 2008 Ford Escape near the Stampede campgrounds after officers witnessed her drive into the opposite lane while driving on the rim of one of the wheels.
Speeder in excess of 200 km/h
A motorist faces mandatory court after travelling at speeds in excess of 200 km/h June 19 at 6:30 a.m.
He was stopped in a Ford Mustang on Highway 2 near Morningside and received a ticket for speeding.
International driver offenses
A male living in Calgary was stopped just north of Lacombe, on July 4 at 7 p.m., for speeding 27 km/h above the posted limit. It was discovered the 24-year-old driver, with no Canadian citizenship, did not posses an international driver’s license, had a warrant out of Calgary for his detention and has been over-staying in Canada since 2011. He is now being detained on immigration violations and received a ticket for the speeding.
High-speed drivers
On July 3, at 9:30 p.m., a 20-year-old St. Albert female was stopped near Wetaskiwin for travelling at speeds of 162 km/h. She was found with a suspended license and a pay-or-stay warrant out of Edmonton and was forced to pay $172 to stay out of jail. The Ford Fusion she was driving was a rental, with the leaseholder in the passenger seat. RCMP members seized the car for 30 days.
Two days earlier, a 28-year-old Edmonton male, driving a 2006 Chevy HHR, was stopped on Secondary Highway 815, just south of Highway 53 for travelling at 158 km/h. His court date is set for Aug. 14.
Impaired driver found in the ditch
Emergency crews were called to a collision June 28 at 1:50 a.m. near Secondary Highway 792 and Highway 53 after seeing a vehicle in the ditch.
Upon arrival police found a red Ford F150 with the vehicle running and loud music playing.
There was an open case of beer in the vehicle but not open cans, however the driver, a 25-year-old man from Lacombe, provided two blood-alcohol samples of .16 and .14.
Ponoka man found with stolen licence
After providing a driver’s licence with a photo that did not match his face June 23 at 9:30 p.m., police charged a 34-year-old Ponoka man with possession of stolen property.
He was stopped at a Highway 2A gas station and after some investigation, the proper owner of the licence said his identification was stolen from his wallet recently.
Marijuana found in vehicle
After being stopped for an equipment violation (auxiliary lights turned on), a 30-year-old Ponoka male was caught with marijuana; police could smell the substance emanating from the gold 2008 Dodge Ram. When asked, the driver produced a roach and a search of the vehicle unearthed a container of marijuana. The male was charged with possession of marijuana and two charges equipment violation.
Car vs. cow
On July 3 at 2 p.m. a 2002 Nissan Sentra struck and killed two cows along Highway 2, northbound in the right lane. The driver was taken to hospital for right leg pains and no charges were laid.
Maskwacis drug bust
On Thursday July 3, Maskwacis RCMP Community Response Unit, Maskwacis RCMP, Wetaskiwin RCMP General Investigation Section and Police Dog Services executed a search warrant in the Louis Bull First Nation.
A search of the residence resulted in the seizure of Cannabis Marihuana, and assorted drug paraphernalia.
RCMP arrested two adults from the residence, Wesley Bull and Cora Lee Rabbit who have been charged with possession of a controlled substance, marihuana.
If you have information on any crime call Ponoka RCMP at 403-783-4472 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.