Once again it was a week of variety for the Estevan Police Service (EPS) personnel as they were kept engaged in trying to track down impaired drivers, false alarms and renegade fireworks displays, which are illegal within city limits without special permits.
The activity began on Aug. 27 with responses to several false alarms throughout the city, then a motor vehicle accident on Kensington Avenue later in the day when a northbound vehicle that had stopped suddenly due to the fact the vehicle in front of him had also stopped abruptly, was struck from behind by a third vehicle.
A tow truck was required to remove the vehicle since it was not seen to be safe enough to drive. The incident is under investigation.
On Aug. 28, EPS members were asked to look into the theft that occurred at a local fast food outlet within the city, and they also tended to a number of hit and run events that happened in various parts of the city during the day and evening.
EPS also noted that they were required to respond to a number of false alarms within the city during the day.
On Aug. 31, EPS members initiated a vehicle stop when the male driver showed signs of impairment. Two breathalyzer examinations were conducted with both readings indicating impairment and blood-alcohol levels above .08 per cent so the man was later released into the care of a sober person after being charged with impairment and driving while over .08 per cent.
In another incident on Aug. 31, EPS members clocked a vehicle on Kensington Ave. travelling at a speed of 80 km/h. Police activated their warning lights and siren and chased the vehicle down Kensington and continued to follow it as it proceeded down King St. where it was finally stopped at Souris Ave.
Police reported the driver of the vehicle had no operator's licence due to previous charges. A breathalyzer test was taken and the driver was issued a 24-hour driving suspension and he was subsequently charged with flight from police and driving while suspended.
Police next received a call from a person who had witnessed an assault that had occurred early in the evening. Several hours later police received information that the victim had been transported to Regina to undergo medical tests. A 17-year-old man was arrested and charged with assault causing bodily harm. He now has a Sept. 9 court date.
A concerned citizen flagged down a police patrol cruiser on Aug. 31 to point out a concern regarding a man who he had noticed further down the block on Fourth Street. The man had been knocking over garbage cans as well as Canada Post mail boxes. The individual was stopped by police and charged for having alcohol in a place other than a private dwelling as well as for being intoxicated in public. He spent the rest of the evening in police cells.
Another vehicle stop on the night of Aug. 31 ended up with another local driver facing charges of driving while impaired and driving while over .08.
Before the night's shift was over, police encountered another man who was obviously inebriated. He was seen vomiting on the side of a building and had a difficult time responding to police inquiries. He was charged with being intoxicated in public and while police conducted an obligatory search they uncovered four packages of powder, which were later shown to be an illegal substance, so he was also charged with being in possession of a controlled substance and was later released after regaining sobriety.
Police also fielded a report of fireworks being set off within the city. They were able to locate the person responsible and issued a warning regarding the local civic bylaw regarding such actions.
On Sept. 1, they field another call regarding an illegal fireworks display, but this time they were not successful in tracking down the source of the action. The same thing happened on Sept. 2, and again police were unable to identify the exact yard from which the activity had taken place.
On Sept. 1, police were called to a motor vehicle accident on the city's northeast side. A female driver of one vehicle refused to provide a breath sample for analysis so she was charged accordingly and will appear in court Oct. 7.
An intoxicated man contacted police on Sept. 1 stating that his common-law wife had stolen a vehicle but since he did not appear at the police station to provide a statement and refused to provide a description of the vehicle, police determined that no further action could be taken.
Police also responded to another call as a result of the Report Impaired Driver program, but they were unable to locate the vehicle in question.
On Sept. 2, EPS members responded to a noise complaint coming from a local apartment block on the south side of the city. The resident in the particular apartment unit was warned about the city's noise bylaw and no further action was required.
