Estevan Police Service members are stepping up enforcement at pedestrian crossings following a couple of close calls at local marked crossings involving walkers and motorists.
Two complaints were registered with police on May 1 involving motorists failing to yield to pedestrians.
The first event involved a father and son on April 30 who were almost struck by a vehicle as they attempted to cross the street at the Souris Avenue and Third Street intersection.
The second close call was registered May 1 when a woman was almost hit by a vehicle on Fourth Street and Ninth Avenue as she attempted to cross the street at a traffic-light controlled intersection.
Both complaints remain under investigation.
EPS members are reminding motorists to slow down, watch for traffic lights, signals and pedestrians.
"The weather is finally co-operating and that means more people are out riding bicycles and walking on our streets and sidewalks," said Const. Tyler McMillen of EPS.
Estevan's police will be stepping up enforcement at the higher risk crossings, on the lookout for offenders who are putting the public at risk by failing to yield and disobeying traffic signals and generally driving without due care and attention.
"Please remind your families, friends and co-workers to drive and walk safely," said McMillen.
In other policing news, EPS members were called to a parking lot disturbance on the night of Aprl 28. The fracas involved a 17-year-old man and 17-year-old woman on the north side of the city. Both were spoken to and eventually sent on separate ways.
Police then responded to a report of an alley fight in the central part of the city, but they were unable to locate the combatants.
The next call for police was a request to investigate a hit and run motor vehicle incident. EPS say they have a suspect and will follow up on their information.
A report of a missing person was cleared up quickly on the night of April 28. The subject involved in the short search called officials shortly after police received a call of concern and stated that his cellphone battery had died and he had been unable to reach the people he had been in contact with earlier. That matter was concluded with no further action required.
A 21-year-old man was charged with driving while prohibited on April 28. He was also charged with driving while impaired and driving while his blood-alcohol content was over .08 per cent. The man had been driving in the central part of the city when the traffic stop was implemented. He now has a June 2 court date.
On the night of May 2, EPS members established a stationary radar system on Kensington Avenue and stopped a driver of a pickup truck that had registered 94 km/h in a 50 km/h zone. Besides being charged for speeding the driver was also charged with driving while impaired and driving while over .08. He was later released to family members.
Another driver was clocked at 108 km/h in the same 50 km/h Kensington Avenue stretch. This driver's ultimate fine will exceed $400.
A third vehicle, travelling at 98 km/h on Fourth Street was also charged for speeding as well as for impaired driving and driving while over .08 per cent. The Alberta-based resident will be appearing in court at a later date.
While conducting a routine stop on the east side of the city that same night, EPS members charged two occupants of a vehicle for possession of a controlled substance - marijuana. One man was also charged for having and consuming alcohol in a motor vehicle.
The night of May 2 also involved a number of noisy parties that police had to attend to during the course of the night shift. They issued warnings about the city's noise bylaw and no further action was required.
When police attended to an east side lounge on the night of May 2 they arrested a woman who was consuming alcohol in contravention of court-ordered conditions that had been placed on her due to multiple outstanding charges. Police noted that she had been disobeying court conditions on several occasions so she was lodged in cells pending another court appearance on May 5.
A break and enter incident on the east side industrial area of the city is being investigated by EPS members as of May 2. The illegal entry triggered security alarms and although the culprits made a quick exit, police were able to recover several pieces of evidence left behind and are also seeking the assistance of the public, with the hope that someone may have seen something that will help them positively identify the person(s) responsible.
Earlier that day, EPS members reported several activities that involved bylaw enforcement that included dogs being at large and illegally parked vehicles as well as other traffic enforcement issues.
On May 3, police received a call regarding a suspicious male subject that the callers felt could also be intoxicated. Police located the man and learned he was not impaired but he was asked to leave the area of concern. Police later had to return to the same area to speak to the man a second and third time before he vacated the scene.
Two separate complaints of domestic assault were recorded by police on May 3. The calls came within minutes of each other. The first event remains under investigation as police seek out one of the people who were involved in the incident and the second incident saw police investigation halted after the victim decided not to proceed with charges. In both instances the female complainants were accusing a common law partner of assault.
Police were also asked to attend to a residence on the west side of the city on May 3. The call concerned the firing of paint ball guns in a residential backyard. The home owner was advised about the local firearm bylaw and no further action was required.
The next call police received involved a dispute between a former tenant and landlord in an apartment complex in the central part of the city. The argument centred on a difference of opinion regarding the state in which the living space had been left following eviction. The tenant was asked to remove the rest of their belongings and to repair damages.
On the night of May 4, EPS members were asked to check on a suspicious vehicle, which they did and determined that the occupants were not engaged in any illegal activity and were safe.
EPS members were next called to an area near 13th Avenue and King Street in response to a report of one man brandishing a knife and confronting another man who was walking nearby. The complainant reported that he was able to leave the area unharmed but police are seeking the assistance of the public in their attempt to identify the knife-wielding man who was unknown to the complainant. Police and the complainant are also curious as to what the motive was for the action.
Anyone who can lend assistance on this matter is asked to phone police at 306-634-4767 or report anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
