233 visit cells over weekend
Kevin Wilson
Northern News Services
Yellowknife (Apr 04/01) - Yellowknife's drunk tank was filled to near overflow as police put an end to the revels of 233 inebriated partiers during Caribou Carnival weekend.
"That's pretty much par for any Caribou Carnival," said Staff Sgt. Terry Scott of the RCMP's Yellowknife detachment.
Police put most people into cells to dry out for a few hours before releasing them. Police issued eight tickets for Liquor Act violations, one person was charged for possession of drugs, and one Criminal Code investigation for a domestic assault was undertaken.
Scott said officers were required in "pretty much the usual areas, near the bars."
Bar employees reported that while the weekend was fairly busy, partiers weren't completely running amok. "It was busy, but everyone was pretty much under control," said Owen Smith, a bartender at the Black Knight.
Police also charged a man from Rae for driving while impaired and driving with a blood alcohol content over the legal limit.
Scott said the man's blood alcohol content was more than four times over the legal limit.
He added that processing so many people strained Yellowknife's lockup.
"It took five hours to release all of (the people put in cells on Friday), and then we were bringing more in as they were going out."
