Police briefs
73 bottles of booze siezed
Northern News Services
Published Monday, December 15, 2014
NORTHWEST TERRITORIES
Fort Resolution RCMP officers conducting traffic enforcement on Dec. 6 stopped a vehicle near Little Buffalo River, about 20 km west of Fort Resolution. As a result, one open bottle of liquor and an additional 72 375-millilitre bottles of spirits were located in the vehicle and seized.
A 25-year-old male from Fort Resolution has been charged with breach of an undertaking in relation to consumption of alcohol; and breaking open, consuming or using liquor during transport.
Const. Elenore Sturko, the media relations officer with the RCMP's 'G' Division, said the Fort Resolution detachment suspects the alcohol had the potential to be bootlegged in the community.
Sturko said a request will be made to a justice of the peace for the seized liquor to be forfeited in accordance with the Liquor Act in relation to the open liquor charge.
No bootlegging charges have been laid in connection with the incident.
A news release from the RCMP reminded the public that, while there is no restriction on alcohol possession in Fort Resolution, selling alcohol privately is prohibited.
The RCMP news release also stated that community members in Fort Resolution have raised concerns about drugs and alcohol affecting their families and friends.
"The Fort Resolution RCMP is committed to stepping up enforcement in and around the hamlet to prevent illegal alcohol and drugs from entering the community."
"Communities have said that is a priority for them, and we work with them in trying to solve those problems," said Sturko.
– Paul Bickford
Man injured in house fire near Tuk
Police are reminding the public to keep Christmas decorations away from heat sources and ensure smoke detectors are in working order in the wake of a house fire that left a 34-year-old man with serious, non-life threatening burns.
The Tuktoyaktuk volunteer fire department and RCMP attended a house fire at Reindeer Point, just outside Tuk, in the early morning hours of Dec. 7, according to an RCMP news release.
The man, who was alone in the home at the time, awoke to the sound of a smoke detector and found a fire blazing in his porch. He was still able to exit the home, which is now "a complete loss," the release states. He was later medevaced to Inuvik hospital as a precaution.
The fire is not considered to be suspicious.
– Laura Busch
RCMP cleared of contempt of court
The RCMP have been cleared of a contempt of court charge after officers failed to get a prisoner to court on time.
The RCMP were originally found in contempt on Sept. 29 after a prisoner was not transported from Yellowknife to Fort McPherson in time for court on July 30.
In a hearing in Yellowknife, Judge Bernadette Schmaltz heard that there had been a breakdown in communications between officers over a mechanical problem with the plane being used to transport the prisoner.
Sgt. Grant Thom, Sgt. Bruce McGregor and Insp. John Bennett all made submissions outlining planned changes to prisoner escort services to prevent a similar occurrence. Schmaltz ruled on Dec. 8 that the RCMP was no longer in contempt.
– John McFadden
