Some unruly patrons at local lounges and a few charges being laid against marijuana smokers absorbed a lot of the shift time for members of the Estevan Police Service during the past few days.
On the Feb. 21 night shift, EPS members were called to a local nightclub after a male patron had to be forcefully removed from the premises by staff. Once outside, the man attempted to fight with the lounge staff. When police arrived the man was taken into custody and lodged in cells for the remainder of the evening.
In following up details around the arrest, police noted that the same man had been involved in another incident earlier in the evening that involved a cellphone belonging to a company he once worked for. When he was arrested, the phone was recovered and returned to the rightful owner.
EPS personnel next responded to a 911 call that involved a woman banging on the side of a home on the north side of the city. The heavily intoxicated woman was taken into custody and lodged in cells overnight.
In the early morning hours of Feb. 22, EPS members were called to a local hotel in response to a report of an intoxicated man passed out in the lobby. He too was arrested and lodged in cells for the remainder of the evening.
On Feb. 22, EPS members spotted a suspicious vehicle parked near the Estevan Archery Club while they were on patrol. A check on the vehicle revealed two young people smoking marijuana. A significant amount of the controlled substance was seized from the duo along with paraphernalia and both were charged with being in possession of a controlled substance and were eventually released into the care of their parents after being handed an April 7 court date.
A 25-year-old man was charged with impaired driving and driving while his blood-alcohol content was over .08 per cent that same evening. He too has an April 7 court date.
Police were next called to a convenience store after a female in the store became frightened, feeling she was about to be assaulted. The people involved in the incident were spoken to by police and sent on their way with no further action required.
Another incident on Feb. 22 involved a 24-year-old woman who was arrested and charged with impaired driving and driving while over .08. The police became aware of her condition as a result of her erratic driving actions in the central part of the city. She has an April 7 court date.
Occupants of a home on the west side of the city were awakened by loud noises coming from outside their home on the night of Feb. 22. The call placed to EPS suggested that the noisemakers might be attempting to enter the home but when police arrived at the scene they were unable to locate any possible noisemakers or troublemakers but left the investigation open in the event more information becomes available.
Another noise complaint was registered with police, coming from the central part of the city later that same night. The occupant of the residence was warned about the city's noise bylaw, and no further action was required.
EPS members also issued two 24-hour driving suspensions against local drivers at two separate traffic stops. Both subjects registered an alert reading while taking roadside breathalyzer exams, so their licences were suspended for the day.
On the night of Feb. 23, EPS members attended to a disturbance at a local lounge that resulted in three arrests with one subject being released on the scene once the situation became clearer. The other two subjects were taken into custody and lodged in cells until sober with one of them now facing charges for resisting arrest after he refused to accompany police following his arrest. When EPS members were required to use force to take him into custody, the charges escalated. The subject also required some medical attention for a minor injury received as a result of the disturbance.
This matter remains under investigation.
During the day shift on Feb. 24, EPS members followed up on a report of a two-vehicle collision. While the drivers were exchanging information one drove off and the 61-year-old female operator was located a short time later and arrested for impaired driving and charged accordingly. Police report that no injuries were incurred as a result of the collision.
Just as they were clearing up the details on the collision and impaired driving call, EPS personnel were dispatched in response to a robbery. Police responded and located the vehicle involved in the theft on the east side of the city. Two men were arrested and charged with theft and for breaching court-ordered conditions as well as for being in possession of a controlled substance (marijuana). The investigation into the pair continues.
