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Police Briefs
Alcohol fuels most crimes

Jason Unrau
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Nov 17/06) - Police responded to 212 calls during the week of Nov. 6 to 12.

Of 10 assaults reported, charges were laid in one case against a 33-year-old female. Three of the incidents are still under investigation and police expect to lay charges in a fourth.

In the category of assaults causing bodily harm, police responded to seven reports and two charges were laid; one against a 21-year-old male and another for assault and forcible confinement were laid against a 37 year old.

Days later, the latter man was again arrested and charged with forcible confinement of the same victim.

On Nov. 9, two separate offices at Centre Mall were broken into. Both are still under investigation.

A sudden death of a 16-year-old male, discovered at his residence by a relative, is not considered suspicious but an autopsy is being conducted to determine the cause of death.

Two people were thrown from the ATV they were travelling on when it hit a rock hidden by snow in the ditch along Old Airport Road on Nov. 11. Both passengers - a youth and adult - were wearing helmets at the time. The youth escaped harm while the adult sustained minor injuries.

A day later, a stolen Ford Excursion was driven through the ditch on Old Airport Road. and into a telephone pole. The accident occurred at approximately 3:30 p.m. and there was no trace of a driver when police arrived at the scene.

Seven reports of snowmobile theft were also logged during this week, according to police. Two machines were recovered, one theft was foiled in progress while four snowmobiles remain missing. Police say their statistics indicate that Polaris is the vehicle of choice for miscreants looking for a free sled.

On the liquor front, this week provided 32 reports of liquor act violations, 26 of 34 disturbing the peace calls were alcohol-related while 19 of 24 mischief calls involved the consumption of booze.

Yellowknife RCMP responded to 270 calls for service between Oct. 30 and Nov. 5.

Three fires that occurred that week appeared suspicious and are under investigation.

According to Const. Roxanne Dreilich a "higher-than-average" number of assaults were reported. Of the 31 reported to police, five resulted in charges and five remain under investigation.

After responding to a careless use of a firearm call in Ndilo, police found no evidence and believe the noise heard was due to fireworks.

That same week, two motorists were charged with impaired driving.

Other alcohol-related disturbances included police responding to 57 calls for violations of the liquor act, 50 of 55 disturbing the peace instances were alcohol-related as well as 29 of 35 incidents of mischief.