CRAVEN — Pro-active patrols by the Saskatchewan RCMP and Combined Traffic Services Saskatchewan were kept busy during the Country Thunder music festival at Craven.
Saskatchewan RCMP police officers responded to 124 calls for service between Wednesday, July 13 and 7 a.m. Monday, July 18, which resulted in 19 charges laid, according to S/Sgt. Craig Cleary of the Saskatchewan RCMP’s South District.
“This includes reports of disturbing the peace, lost and stolen items, missing person reports, liquor act offences, assault and everything in between. The highest number of calls for police assistance were on Friday, Saturday and Sunday and, in total, 31 people were arrested and held by police for various offences,” said Cleary.
Among the calls for service for the duration of the festival were:
- four 911 Act calls, for example, call to 911 in error;
- four reports of assault;
- 29 disturbing the peace/causing a disturbance;
- three Mental Health Act, including an individual at/in the creek;
- one animal-related call for service related to a dog in a crate outdoors in the hot weather;
- four 72-hour driver’s license suspensions;
- two separate charges of possession for the purpose of trafficking cocaine;
- one person in possession of cocaine;
- one identity fraud for an individual providing a false name during a Controlled Drug and Substances Act investigation;
- 10 reports of items lost/found, many related to lost or found wallets and credit cards;
- 14 liquor act offences – AGRA tickets issued, including two youth charged;
- six reports of mischief, damage to or obstruct enjoyment of property;
- Six people reported missing, all are located;
- two reports of theft under $5,000, including theft of a chair and theft of a giant plush banana, later located by police officers and returned to the owner;
- two Fire Prevention Act calls, smoke alarm went off in a camper trailer and for a campfire at a campsite;
- one noise complaint, municipal bylaw;
- one person impersonating a police officer;
- two reports of uttering threats against a person;
- two Motor Vehicle Act calls, keys locked in a car and vehicle stuck in the mud.
Traffic Services
Combined Traffic Services Saskatchewan including police officers from the Saskatchewan RCMP, Moose Jaw Police Service and Regina Police Service CTSS units were dedicated to road safety for the duration of the Country Thunder musical festival, supplementing RCMP officer presence in the festival areas.
“Education was key and our team issued 162 warnings to members of the public,” said Cst. Michel Hachey of CTSS Saskatchewan. “CTSS officers conducted patrols in the Craven, Lumsden and Regina Beach areas on both highway and gravel roads. Between midnight July 15 and 4 a.m. July 18, CTSS police officers issued a total of 55 tickets and one 72-hour license suspension.”
Violations
- 13 speeding violations;
- one exceed 60 km/hr passing emergency lights activated;
- one exceed 60 km/hr passing a tow truck with amber light;
- two fail to stop at stop sign;
- one proceed from stop sign before safe to do so;
- four fail to wear seatbelt;
- six unregistered vehicle;
- three drive while holding electronic communication device;
- one fail to comply with license endorsement or restriction;
- two fail to produce driver licence;
- one learner driver unaccompanied;
- one drive without a valid driver’s licence;
- six fail to produce registration paper;
- two excessive damage to windshield;
- one under the Highway Traffic Regulation Act, load or drive a vehicle with cargo that dropped or was likely to drop on the public highway - a pallet dropped off a trailer onto the highway and struck two vehicles;
- one under the Vehicle Equipment Regulation Act, inadequate muffler;
- seven under the Vehicle Equipment Regulation Act, unlawful sunscreen on front side windows or windshield;
- two under the Alcohol Gaming Regulation Act, have, give, keep or consume beverage alcohol in a vehicle;
- one 72-hour driver’s licence suspension
