Williams Lake RCMP detachment was supported by some outside staffing over Stampede weekend as the major event got underway.
BC Highway Patrols also helped out on area roads, setting up five check stops over the four-day event.
Roadside prohibitions for impaired driving showed some enjoying the festivities chose not to take advantage of the free bus service the Stampede provided, with 18 immediate driving prohibitions for impaired driving issued at check stops.
Williams Lake RCMP responded to 310 calls between June 26 and July 3, with the calls including assaults, impaired driving, and mental health apprehensions, according to the police report.
Butter me up!
On June 27, police attended a report of an assault, where one person reportedly swung a butter knife at another person. The alleged assailant was arrested and released on conditions.
The same day, several men were arrested by the Cariboo-Chilcotin Crime Reduction Unit and the local General Investigations unit after multiple fights reportedly broke out at the Stampede grounds.
Police arrested a man for a breach of conditions and possession of a weapon after they said they received multiple reports of a man swinging a weapon around a business on Oliver Street. The man was held in custody to appear in court.
Also on June 27, police were investigating a report of a missing youth. RCMP said hours were spent talking to school officials, friends and parents in order to pinpoint a location the person might be.
Another arrest resulted after police responded to a reported assault. One man was alleged to be intoxicated and assaulting another. The man was held in custody until police deemed he was safe to release for himself. The alleged victim chose not to pursue charges.
One man was also arrested for their endorsed warrant then released without issue while another was arrested for their unendorsed warrant and held to appear in court. An endorsed warrant means police can release the suspect for a new court date, while an unendorsed warrant means police must hold the person until they can appear before a Justice of the Peace.
On the edge
RCMP reported attending a vehicle incident on June 28 in which a vehicle went over an embankment and dropped 10 feet before stopping on a ledge. Police said had the vehicle not stopped there, it could have dropped several hundred feet further down. The driver was said to have sustained only minor injuries and was taken to hospital for assessment.
The same day, police attended an alleged stabbing in which two people sustained injuries from one alleged aggressor. Police said all the parties involved knew one another and the alleged offender was arrested without issue and police said the injuries were minor, however the investigation is ongoing.
A man drinking in Boitanio Park was arrested the same day as well, and kept in custody until it was deemed he was again able to care for himself.
Intoxicating time
As Stampede weekend went on, RCMP dealt with a few more individuals on Sunday and Monday they believe were under the influence.
June 29 a man was arrested and held until he could care for himself after reportedly punching at an intercom and swearing at the staff of a local agency. Another man was arrested for impaired driving after reportedly rear ending another vehicle near Highway 20 and Meldrum Creek Road. Police said the man was later located driving a UTV while impaired.
Three other drivers were also given 90-day roadside prohibitions for impaired driving and another was given a three-day driving prohibition for allegedly driving impaired.
On June 30, a man police describe as intoxicated was arrested after reportedly threatening employees. He was held in cells until able to care for himself and issued a letter banning him from the business.
Just rolling through
A semi-truck and trailer went off the road and into the ditch on Highway 97 at Toop Road on July 1. The driver is said to have stopped the truck and gotten out to check something when it began to roll. The driver then suffered minor injuries while holding onto the vehicle. The driver and a youth passenger were brought to the hospital as a precaution.
A male and female, in two separate police incidents, were apprehended under the mental health act and brought to hospital for assessment.
A female was arrested for breaching her release conditions stemming from an alleged theft, as a result of being reportedly conducting another theft. She was held for court due to concerns of re-offending.
Police said they attended a fight between two youth. The young men were said to be brothers and were held in custody due to their alleged impairment and what police said was "uncontrollable anger." They were released to their guardian when deemed safe to themselves and one another.
Police attended a mental health crisis after a report of a suicidal individual, apprehending the person under the mental health act and taking them to the hospital for assessment.
More arrests, apprehensions
Police said they arrested a man on July 2 reported to have stolen from a local business and then held him in custody due to believed impairment.
Proactive patrols resulted in police arresting a male on unendorsed warrants, meaning he had to be held to appear in court.
On July 3, again in separate incidents, one man and then one woman were apprehended under the mental health act and taken to the hospital for further assessment.
Funding for extra staff during the Williams Lake Stampede was provided by the Government of B.C.'s Community Safety and Targeted Enforcement Program.
