Poor decisions that are often fueled by the consumption of alcohol and/or drugs often lead to not so desirable consequences. That could probably be the thoughts of several people who ended up becoming involved with the Estevan Police Service (EPS) within the past seven to 10 days according to information received by the media.
On July 26, EPS members started their day shift by handling two impaired driving investigations. The first involved a 32-year-old man who was observed driving away from a local lounge and was subsequently charged for driving while impaired and driving while his blood-alcohol content was over. 08 per cent. He has a Sept. 30 court date.
The second driver, a 34-year-old man refused to provide a breath sample after being stopped by police for a roadside examination. He too will be in court on Sept. 30.
One EPS officer who was off duty noted a 23-year-old man, who was wanted on warrants, after he observed him entering a local business. Uniformed members were alerted and attended to the business and arrested and charged the man with a new offence. The suspect was held in custody pending a July 29 court appearance.
EPS members once again displayed a sense of being able to respond to all types of calls when they attended to a local residence on July 27 to assist with the removal of a cat that had become stuck in the undercarriage of a truck. It was determined that since the animal was in a great deal of distress it would be best to sedate it before attempting to extricate it from the truck. A veterinarian technician and an EPS member rescued the cat after the sedation drugs took effect.
Following the incident, police were asked to attend to a residence in the south central part of the city in response to a call from a man who stated that a woman had arrived at his door and threatened him. He provided a description of the woman and the vehicle she was driving and police were able to locate the 47-year-old subject and open an investigation into the incident.
During the early morning hours of July 28, EPS members were informed by a victim that he had been attacked by another man wielding a baseball bat. Police located the 49-year-old batman and the 39-year-old complainant and learned that they were roommates. Further discussion with police revealed that both men shared some fault in the altercation and it was determined they needed to distance themselves from one another for a time. A short time later the 39-year-old was observed driving and since police were familiar with the circumstances, they stopped him and requested a breathalyzer test, which led to charged of impaired driving and driving while over .08 per cent and a Sept. 30 court date.
EPS members responded to a call from a local hotel where they learned that two vehicles that had been parked near the building had been entered and rummaged through. Several articles from the vehicles were found strewn on the ground but it appeared as if nothing was missing.
A call from a local seniors' residence was responded to by police on July 28. A resident who had been causing some problems in the facility was spoken to and it appeared as if the matter was resolved without further policing action being necessary.
EPS members were also looking into a vandalism incident that included rocks being thrown at a vehicle, which led to two windows being smashed.
Police also responded to several false alarms and several complaints regarding careless drivers during their July 28 shift.
On July 29 EPS members were made aware of an incident on one of the main streets in the city where a load of goods packed onto a commercial truck had spilled onto the roadway. People who lived and worked in the area observed the incident and recognized the hazard on the street, so they were in the process of cleaning it up when police arrived. The company involved in the matter were notified and were asked to send employees to the site to ensure the cleanup was complete.
On July 30 EPS members attended to the south central area of the city in response to a call regarding an assault in progress.
When police arrived they observed a man attempting to leave the scene in a vehicle. The 36-year-old combatant was placed in a patrol vehicle, while the 39-year-old complainant was interviewed. The 39-year-old was suffering from a bleeding lip and said he wanted to seek medical attention before providing a statement to police so the matter was placed under investigation for a later date.
An anonymous call to police led to the arrest of a 38-year-old woman for impaired driving and driving while over .08. She has a Sept. 30 court date.
Several calls regarding a stray dog in a number of neighbourhoods in the city on July 30 led to police patrols in an attempt to spot the stray animal but police were unable to locate it.
On Aug. 1 EPS members attended to a two-vehicle collision in the Hillside area of the city. One vehicle needed to be towed from the scene. A 32-year-old woman was charged with proceeding from a stop sign before it was safe to do so.
That same night police conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle being driven by a 20-year-old subject who was charged with impaired driving and for being in breach of a probation order. He has a September court date.
Police also responded to a call coming from a local lounge involving a fight in progress, but when they arrived the incident had ended but several patrons were removed from the scene to ensure the safety and security of others.
An alcohol infused domestic dispute in the southeast area of the city ended up with police intervention on Aug. 2. The loud dispute led to the removal of a woman from the residence and she was subsequently released into the care of her mother who attended the police headquarters to help resolve the matter.
Another domestic disturbance in an apartment complex was responded to by police that same night. A heated argument in an apartment had spilled out onto the street. When police arrived, neither party was willing to provide a statement or proceed with charges so no further policing action could be taken.
An erratic driver on the east side of the city attracted police attention that evening as well. The 27-year-old operator of the vehicle refused to provide a breath sample so he was charged accordingly.
While on patrol police officers noted an altercation in the parking lot of a local hotel. The two men were observed rolling on the ground. When police broke them apart the two suggested they were simply horsing around but during the interview a police officer recognized one of the men as being a person who would be in breach of court-ordered conditions, which included non-consumption of alcohol or attendance at a place where the primary purpose is the sale of alcohol. He was taken into custody and released later following an appearance before a justice of peace.
Another Aug. 3 incident involved the arrest of a 21-year-old man for being in possession of 30 grams or less of a controlled drug.
Another incident involved the arrest of a 28-year-old woman who admitted to consuming a controlled drug before driving. She was charged with impaired driving.
The next call to police involved a complaint regarding a woman who had been beaten. When police attended to the east side residence they located the victim who claimed her boyfriend had hit her and during the altercation her purse, containing her medication had gone missing. The male subject involved in the fracas was located a short distance from the scene. Police noted that both subjects appeared to be intoxicated and when questioned by police, both refused to co-operate so they were taken into custody and lodged in cells until regaining sobriety.
During that same shift police observed a man who was standing in the middle of Second Avenue relieving himself. He was taken into custody, charged with being intoxicated in public and lodged in cells for the rest of the night.
Police next attended to a fight outside a local lounge that involved some male subjects. The combatants were separated and advised to make their way home. One man entered a cab and left the scene while the other walked away but was then seen returning to the area through a back corner of the bar. He was being followed by security personnel. The man was loud and abusive so he was placed under arrest, charged with being intoxicated in public and lodged in cells until sober.
On Aug. 2 police were advised that when two vehicles were passing on Fourth Street a bottle was hurled from a dark coloured vehicle that broke the windshield of the passing pickup truck. An investigation into the incident has been opened.
EPS members then received a call from St. Joseph's Hospital regarding a difficult patient who had walked into the facility and proceeded to act in a very aggressive manner. Police remained on the scene while the patient was examined and then took the subject into their care for a trip to Weyburn where arrangements were made to see an attending doctor.
The next stop for police on Aug. 3 was at a loud party at an apartment. This time charges under the local bylaw were levied against the apartment owner since it was noted that previous warnings had been issued at that address and police had received several calls regarding the loud music.
Another noisy party complaint was tended to by police. In this instance the party was slowly wound down and no further policing action was required.
Three men were caught on a surveillance recording destroying a sign at a local fast food outlet. The three men were spoke to about their actions and the investigation continues with the assistance of the surveillance recording.
A man in an intoxicated state was observed by police passed out beside a dumpster. After he was awakened by police it was determined that there was no one in a responsible position to turn him over to so he was lodged in cells until sober.
While this process was being completed a bloody and intoxicated man arrived at the police station advising people he had been in a fight with another man while drinking with his roommate. The man stated he had no safe place to go for the remainder of the evening so he too, was lodged in cells and an investigation was started.
Two motorists contacted police on Aug. 4 complaining that their vehicle's air bags had deployed when they hit a pothole on Souris Avenue north. One vehicle was still drivable while the other needed to be towed from the site.
A disturbance at a local lounge attracted police attention that same night. Two people were removed from the premises with one of them being charged with being intoxicated in a public place while the other was sent on his way. Unfortunately, he decided to return to the scene and became argumentative with police personnel. He was repeatedly instructed to leave the scene but refused to do so. This left police with their only alternative, an arrest and charges for being intoxicated in public and a night spent in cells.
