Paula White
Northern News Services

NNSL (Jan 04/98) - An 81-year-old Fort Providence man was viciously attacked Boxing Day.

Fort Providence RCMP Corporal Rod Tiller said it is believed two males, 19 and 20 years old, entered the elderly man's apartment, which is located in a senior's complex, demanded money and then assaulted him. When the two were unable to find any money, they then allegedly dragged the victim outside and continued to beat him.

The victim was taken to hospital and treated for cracked ribs and multiple bruises. He was released from hospital later that evening.

Tiller said before the two males were apprehended, they then proceeded to another residence where the 20-year-old apparently used force to remove a nine-year-old boy from a snowmobile which was parked outside a residence. The 20-year-old then allegedly stole the snowmobile. The child was not injured.

Tiller said the two men were apparently intoxicated at the time. Police laid several charges, including robbery and obstructing justice by threatening witnesses. The men are currently in custody in Hay River.

That was only one of many incidents that kept RCMP members busy in Fort Providence over the holidays. Fort Providence RCMP Const. James Buhler said between Dec. 23 and Dec. 26, there were a total of 25 criminal investigations resulting in charges. Those included 10 common assaults, three spousal assaults, (one of which involved a weapon), one assault causing bodily harm and one assault with a weapon.

There were also three break and enters at private residences, resulting in a quantity of liquor being stolen from one. And aside from the robbing and beating of the 81-year-old victim, two other robberies also occurred.

Yellowknife RCMP were also extremely busy on Christmas weekend, seizing luggage containing $90,000 at the airport on Dec. 27. Police believe the cash, which was bound for Edmonton, was connected to the seizure of 450 grams of cocaine (estimated to be worth $100,000), from a Yellowknife residence on Dec. 26. Police say arrests are pending their investigation.

RCMP in Fort McPherson also reported a busy Christmas. Const. Lorant Hegedus said most of the incidents involved assaults and disturbances and were alcohol-related.

In Deline, more than $4,000 in merchandise was stolen from the Great Bear Co-op on Boxing Day. It was the second break and enter to occur at the co-op within a week.

Deline Constable Gilbert Rose said thieves took about $750 in coins (toonies and loonies) and 58 cartons of cigarettes valued at about $4,000.

Rose said thieves gained entry through a door which hadn't yet been repaired from the previous break in on Dec. 21. He said the alarm did go off but the culprits still had time to steal the merchandise. Rose added the coins were taken from the safe which also hadn't been repaired from the first break.

No arrests have been made in connection with the second break-in. Rose said police are asking the public for information.

During the first break and enter, thieves used a chain saw to cut a hole in the back door. Once inside, they removed video tape from the surveillance cameras and then disabled the cameras.

Thieves then used tools to break open the safe. It was reported the safe contained about $40,000, but RCMP discovered only $11,000 missing. The rest of the money was still in the safe. Police charged three young offenders with the crime and recovered $10,450 of the stolen money.

Police also laid seven charges against one of the young offenders, who is 12 years old, in connection with other break and enters in Deline. The other two youths are 14 years old. The three will appear in territorial youth Court on Jan. 12.

There were a couple of communities that weren't so busy.

"Cold as heck," said Hay River Sergeant Bob Gray. "That's probably got something to do with it."

Gray said police were called to a spousal assault on Dec. 30 but other than that, only minor incidents occurred.

Police in Tuktoyaktuk weren't too busy either. Sergeant Richard Crooks said a house was broken into on Dec. 29 while its owners were away for the holidays. Thieves gained entry through an unlocked kitchen window.

"It appears the only things taken were carvings," Crooks said. "Until such time when the owners return, it's kind of hard to determine what was taken."