Dawn Ostrem
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Sept 05/01) - The phones were ringing and the cells were full last long weekend at the Yellowknife RCMP detachment.

The 70 calls and 70 prisoners held in detachment cells kept officers busier than usual.

The number of people lodged in cells exceeded the numbers from previous long weekends this year. Throughout May the number of people in cells never exceeded 60.

"It was just one of those hiccups," said Sgt. Al McCambridge when asked why he thought that was. "Maybe the full moon."

The types of complaints varied. Police officers dealt with everything from assaults and break and enters to missing persons and public intoxication.

About 90 per cent of people taken into cells on weekends in Yellowknife are there as a result of being drunk.

"Alcohol is a major factor with regards to people held in custody," McCambridge said.