Report from the Weyburn Police Service for the week of April 29 to May 6:
During the reporting period, police received 101 calls for service. Many were incidents of individuals in conflict continually texting each other. As a form of communication, texting should always be carried out with respect to the individual with whom one corresponds. If the messages are perceived as threatening by the recipient, they could potentially lead to criminal liability by the sender. This childish and unnecessary behaviour can easily be avoided if the participants exercise some maturity and common sense.
*On May 5, during a routine patrol of the downtown area, officers discovered a suspicious-looking vehicle in the area of Third Street and Railway Avenue. The vehicle's passenger door was open and it appeared that someone had rummaged through the glove compartment. The owner of the vehicle was contacted and it is unknown what was stolen. Locking vehicle doors can help deter these types of theft.
*Police received an assault complaint. The victim, a 19-year-old male, advised police that earlier that morning, around 2:30 a.m., he was awakened by someone knocking on his door. When he opened the door he was punched once in the face by an unknown person. The victim went to the hospital for examination and was released shortly thereafter. An investigation is ongoing.
*Police responded to a call of a noisy party in the 1100 block of Douglas Road. The property owner was warned about the noise and a 16-year-old male was charged for possession of alcohol.
*Police received information that an individual who was wanted on Canada Wide warrants from Manitoba (for threatening and unlawful confinement) was residing in Weyburn. Police attended a local residence and arrested the 25-year-old male without incident. The individual was remanded in custody and will be transported back to Manitoba to face charges.
*Police conducted a vehicle stop in the 800 Block of Railway Avenue. The driver showed signs of impairment by alcohol consumption. The subsequent investigation resulted in a 28 year old male being charged with impaired driving and driving while exceeding .08. He will be making his first court appearance on May 22.
*Police responded to a disturbance in a parking lot near the intersection of Highway 35 and Highway 39. There were a number of individuals involved in a verbal altercation. Police separated the parties and conducted an investigation, which determined there had been a consensual fight. No criminal charges were laid and the individuals were sent on their way.
*On May 3, police conducted a routine traffic stop that resulted in charges of driving over .08. The impaired male driver was also in breach of existing release conditions and as a result, he was charged with three counts of breaching those conditions.
*Police handled a domestic dispute, in conjunction with Victim Services. The long-standing conflict required intervention by way of an Emergency Intervention order. This will allow separation of the individuals to create a safe environment for them to work to solve issues and move forward in their lives.
*On May 2, police were made aware of some young girls out walking and being followed by a white van. There was no further description of the white van or its occupants. Police advise people to call in their concerns immediately so the situation can be checked out and, if possible, get a license plate and/or description of the vehicle's occupants. Though it is extremely helpful for police to have this information, one should never put personal safety in jeopardy to accomplish getting more details.
*Police received a 911 call of domestic conflict. It took a short time to track the cell phone call before police could respond to the matter. Alcohol was a major contributing factor to the dispute. To avoid further conflict, the individuals were separated for the evening to sober up.
*On May 1, police responded to a report of a garage fire in the 500 block of Fifth Street north. The fire department was able to extinguish the blaze, although there was an extensive amount of damage to the garage. It is apparent that the fire started outside of the garage in articles stored around it. The investigation into the incident is still ongoing. If anyone has information regarding this incident, call the police at 848-3250.
*Officers attended a south hill residence regarding a family dispute. As a result, police took a youth into custody. A subsequent investigation resulted in the youth being charged for mischief for damage done to the residence.
*Police attended a residence in central Weyburn because it had been broken into and entered during the preceding 24 hours. The house was unoccupied at the time and was being checked regularily by a third party. The matter is still under investigation.
*Police responded to a 911 call of an assault in progress. The call, which originated at a residence in north central Weyburn, was a result of a 34-year-old female who attended the residence and assaulted a 30-year-old female. The 34-year-old female was taken into custody and charged. She will appear in court later this month.
*Police responded to a residence to assist in locating an individual who had not returned home from the previous night's activities. Family members were concerned, as the individual had previous medical issues and they felt this was out of character for him. After a brief time, the man returned home safe and sound, ending the need to search.
*Police received calls from various members of the public who were receiving calls to their home where an individual was trying to gain access to their computer. This is yet another example of a number of methods used to scam people. Police advise avoiding getting involved in any business over the phone that requires providing personal information. Anytime someone is requesting computer access, personal information, banking information or any other information, it is almost always a scam of some description. Simply express 'not interested' and hang up the phone.
*Police responded to a report of a vehicle being operated by an impaired driver in the downtown area. Officers responded but were unable to locate the reported vehicle on this occasion. The registered owner will now receive a letter outlining the events and warning them of the complaint. This will serve to remind them of the risks and consequences of driving a vehicle while impaired. This is an example of the successful R.I.D. (Report Impaired Drivers) program, in which the community has been involved. This program can only continue to be successful with the cooperation of the public. Most calls result in police locating the vehicle while it is still being operated and most often result in charges to the operator of the vehicle.
*Police tended to a domestic dispute at an apartment building. The conflict between two women was resolved prior to arrival of the officers. The subject of the complaint was warned about the situation.
*Police responded to a call from a local hotel as a result of concern expressed over a resident's well being. After police intervention and discussions with the individual, they refused any assistance offered by police to seek professional help.
Crime Stoppers release
The Weyburn Police Service is asking the public's assistance in identifying those involved in the following crime:
In the early morning hours of Sunday, April 29th, an unknown person, or persons, was responsible for opening two fire hydrants. The hydrants were located at Confederation Drive and Sixth Avenue SE and Souris Avenue and 11th Street.
As a result of this mischief, the hydrants were fully open for a period of hours. This amounted to a loss of approximately one million litres of treated water at a cost to the City of approximately $10,000. This incident also dropped the water reservoir and significantly impacted the filtration system. This influx of water nearly caused safety levels to be exceeded, which would have resulted in another Boiled Water Advisory being issued.
If you have any information on this or any other serious crime please contact the Weyburn Police Service at 306-848-3250 or contact Saskatchewan Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
