Guest Blogger | 10 Things You Shouldn't do at Road Checks

VicPD's Cst. Graeme Leblanc is guest blogging today with his post "10-Things You Shouldn't do at Road Checks". Cst. Leblanc is very passionate about road safety and was most recently one of the Acting Sergeant's in the Capital Regional District's Integrated Road Safety Unit. Throughout Cst Leblanc's career he has witnessed many of the strange things people will do to try to get out of going through a Road Check. Here is his top 10.

10 Things you shouldn’t do at Road Checks

Drive up with a crack pipe in one hand and a lighter in the other, while you have crack and heroin in your pocket – 14-14130

U-turn prior to a roadblock and flee from police, get caught and end up providing breath samples of 0.26 and 0.27, that’s over 3 times the legal limit. File: 14-197

Pretend you can’t see the officer or the roadblock and drive through without stopping, then flee from police, get caught and end up providing breath samples of .08 and .07.  IRSU File 13-16

Have a beer in your hand as you’re driving up to the roadblock.  When confronted by the officer, put the beer in the center console and deny any knowledge.

As you are driving up to a police roadblock, forget to stop, smash into the vehicle in front of you at 50 km/h, pushing that car into a third vehicle.  This all happens because you are so hammered you have trouble walking.  Police have to physically remove you from the vehicle and place you into the police car.  Pretend you can’t speak English.  Refuse to provide a breath sample, blah, blah, blah.  IRSU File: 12-190

As you approach the roadblock, use your truck to do the Dukes of Hazzard over the center median.  Dump your vehicle and flee from police. Do all of this cause you are impaired and breaching your bail conditions.  IRSU File: 12-358

Drive up to a police roadblock when you are a prohibited driver from a previous impaired driving charge.  Unfortunately, the same officer that dealt with you for the first impaired is the one to speak to you at the roadblock and recognizes you as a prohibited driver.  Watch as your wife (with a valid license) and your two kids leave on foot to walk the rest of the way home.  Make a sad face to the police officer as your Audi A4 gets impounded for 60 days. IRSU file 11-701

Drive up to a police roadblock while the woman in the back seat, who is not your wife, tries desperately to put her pants back on.  The car reeks of fresh marihuana.  When the officer opens the driver’s door, your baggie of coke can be seen in the door’s map pocket.  In addition to the cocaine, you also have one and a half pounds of marihuana and half a pound of hash in the car too.  IRSU File: 13-513

Drive up and stop short 50 meters short of a police roadblock.  Trade places with the driver because he is drunk and doesn’t have a license because of his previous impaired charges.  Get arrested for impaired driving yourself.  Change your mind and provide a written statement to the police so that you can get your (now) ex-boyfriend charged as well.  You blow 0.10, then 0.09 and your ex blows 0.12 and 0.11.  Two impaired drivers from one vehicle.  IRSU file 09-96

As you’re speaking to the officer, she notes a smell of fresh marihuana coming from the vehicle.  You’re arrested and when the vehicle is searched, police find a small amount of marihuana and just under $24,000 in cash in a backpack.  The money is the profits from selling drugs.  All the money is forfeited to Revenue Canada for unpaid back taxes.  IRSU file 09-718

Let Me Tell You about Dave

"Dave" is a pseudonym, used to protect the identity of the person the story is about.

Three days after Christmas police were called to remove someone who was no longer welcome. A friend had taken in Dave over the holidays and when we arrived he was so drunk that he could not speak or walk. For Dave’s friend, this behavior was outrageous and meant the end of the generosity. This was not unusual for the police, nor was it unusual for Dave.

As a matter of fact, Dave had been released from the hospital only an hour earlier where he had been taken after drinking himself into unconsciousness that morning.

Dave is one of our local street people and he suffers from mental health and addiction issues. The following is a snap-shot of what Dave’s life has been like since Christmas based solely on his interactions with the police.

We called for an ambulance that evening and Dave was taken back to the hospital where he could receive the appropriate care for his immediate condition. Gone are the days of lodging him in a cold, cell because nobody else would care for him.

Six hours later we were called to a local drug store where Dave was highly intoxicated and trying to steal Listerine. The store security recognized the futility of trying to proceed with criminal charges and merely wanted him removed.

An ambulance was called for the third time this day and the paramedics examined Dave. They determined that, although very intoxicated, he did not require hospitalization. We disagreed.

So, off to the hospital Dave went in the back of a police car. Once there the doctor examined him and cleared him of any immediate medical concerns, other than being extremely drunk. Dave was not welcome.

Back to the cold, cell for Dave… I was wrong.

The next afternoon, we were called to a local fast food restaurant for a male sleeping at one of the tables. Staff knew the man, knew his violent temper, and were afraid to wake him.

Dave had been wandering around since his release from cells with no place to go and only the clothes on his back. He wandered in to the restaurant for some warmth and just fell asleep.

We called around to the local emergency shelters but they all knew Dave. He was not welcome.

We drove him to a place where he thought, maybe, a friend would take him in. We dropped him off and he said something rude.

Later that evening history repeated itself and a waitress called from a local restaurant because a male had passed out a table. This time Dave had enjoyed a full dinner and several drinks before lapsing into unconsciousness. He had no money and the waitress paid for his meal out of her tips.

Dave was barely conscious and the ambulance was rerouted to another, higher priority, emergency call. We transported him to the hospital and learned that this was his second visit of the day. His level of consciousness was decreasing and, this time, he stayed where he could be cared for.

The next day, one of the local shelters called us. Dave had snuck in, unnoticed, and was now unconscious, barely breathing, on their floor. We arrived, along with paramedics, and he was taken back to the hospital.

Bright and early the next morning a taxi driver pulled up to the front of the police station. He had picked up a fare at the hospital that was now unconscious in the front seat of his cab. How Dave had managed to drink himself into unconsciousness in a taxi between the hospital and the police station is still unknown, but there he was. The ambulance was called and back to the hospital he went.

Six hours later a citizen saw an intoxicated man fall down on the road and hit his head. Dave had an almost empty bottle of Listerine in a death grip, stunk of liquor, and was taken back to the hospital.

We didn't see Dave the next day.

Perhaps it was because he had passed out in the darkness behind a dumpster where nobody could see him. That’s where he was found.

In the past two days three warrants had been approved for Dave’s arrest for failing to pay for food or for stealing food. He was taken to the hospital where he was cared for until sober enough to be arrested. Dave was then taken to cells where he was held until the next morning for a bail hearing.

Dave did five days in jail.

Once released, we received a call that he had snuck back into one of the shelters. Again, he was so intoxicated that he had fallen and cut his head. The paramedics attended and took him back to the hospital for the third time that day.

The next day he was back, sitting on the sidewalk, in front of the shelter, and still unwelcome. He had been put in a taxi at the hospital and delivered to the shelter that wouldn't allow him in. He was wearing a thin blazer, and hospital pajamas. We called around to shelters and hotels trying to find someplace for him. He had burned all those bridges and as soon as his name was mentioned the doors closed to him.

We came by the station and outfitted him with winter jacket, hoodie, jeans, and a wool blanket from the supply of donations kept on hand from our members for occasions of this sort. We then took him to a local fast food restaurant and bought him a coffee. Dave was sober and friendly and unusually pleasant to deal with. That’s where we left him. It was 1:30 am.

At 7:15 am one of our members patrolling downtown saw two males in a make-shift campsite. One was fine while the other, Dave, was not. He had been consuming prescription medication and Listerine and was quickly deteriorating. An ambulance was called and he was transported to the hospital.

It wasn’t until 4:15 pm that Dave reappeared on our radar. He was intoxicated and refusing to leave a fast food restaurant. Perhaps it was because he was so drunk he couldn't walk. Back to the hospital he went.

At 9:30 pm Dave was back at the same fast food restaurant, intoxicated, he had fallen again, splitting open his head injury from the previous day. This had been a bad day by anybody’s standards and back to the hospital he went.

Two days later Dave surfaced in Saanich where the Saanich Police were called to a restaurant for an intoxicated male. The paramedics had examined him and deemed that he did not require medical attention. Dave was lodged in cells because he was too intoxicated to care for himself.

Just after midnight Dave was back downtown at a fast food restaurant passed out a table. We couldn't wake him and the ambulance was called. Back to the hospital he went.

Six days went by without a sign of Dave.

Then, out of the blue, we received a call from Dave’s daughter. She lives in another part of the country and she was worried about her dad, as children sometimes do. They had grown apart over the years due to his mental health, addictions, and the turmoil of emotions that surrounds them. For some unexplained reason she had simply become “anxious” about his well-being and wanted to find him. She couldn't explain why and had no idea of his current situation.

Our officer promised her that he would find her dad.

It didn't take long and Dave was located, chemically sedated and locked down due to his violent outbursts, at the hospital.  He was now considered at a high risk to die as a result of his lifestyle. Dave had expressed a willingness to attend addiction counselling upon his release but, he’d done that before. He had learned, long ago, that saying the right things would get him out the door where he could go on doing whatever he wanted.

Our member recognized that now was the time to reach out to our community partners and find a way to save Dave, whether he wanted saving or not. He was scheduled for a court appearance and, with everyone working together, Dave could be put in front of a Judge, and we could seek a court ordered rehabilitation program.

This came to be and Dave found himself in front of a Judge who knew him well. The court deemed that a condition to attend, and participate in, counselling was justified. In response, Dave made it perfectly clear that he had no intention to stop drinking and that he believed counselling didn't work.

He was released.

The message from his daughter was passed along to Dave.

The following day Dave called us himself. He wanted to go to the hospital. Things were beginning to change.

Two days later we received another unusual call. Dave was at the hospital, sober, and refusing to leave. He wanted help.

It was midnight and he was at the emergency ward with no “real” emergent medical need. Due to his history of violence and abuse towards the hospital staff, he wasn't welcome.

Again, we tried all the shelters and no one would take him in. Dave didn't appear to understand why. We tried to explain to him how his long running rampage of anti-social behavior, violence, and abuse, had brought him to where he was. There was nothing we could do for him. He had to leave.

Twelve hours later Dave was back at the hospital having consumed glycerin, he was unsteady on his feet but otherwise functioning well. However, now he was refusing to accept any treatment and wanted to leave. We arrived and negotiated a peaceful settlement. Dave left a little later having been cleared medically.

Later that evening, Dave was found outside a downtown market vomiting from all the Listerine he had consumed. The Victoria Fire Department was there and paramedics attended to take him to the hospital.

He was released from the hospital three hours later wearing his blazer and hospital pajamas. We picked him up and restocked him with warm clothes, a scarf, and a blanket. Again we tried the shelters and this time one graciously allowed Dave to stay for one night, and one night only.

The next evening Dave came back to the same shelter despite being told he could only stay for the one night. He was sober and looking for help. For the first time he said he was “getting too old to sleep outside”. He agreed to leave but wanted to try back later in the night to see if he could stay.

Two days later Dave was unwanted again at the shelter that had helped him. When we arrived he was sober. We gave him a lift to a different shelter for a hot meal. Where he was going to spend the night, he did not know.

Since appearing before the Judge, Dave’s behavior had changed. A number of partner agencies had been brought in to provide assistance and, for the first time in a long time, Dave was listening.

Four days later, Dave had a bus ticket. It’s quite possibly a ticket that could save his life. It will take him out of Victoria to an Addiction Treatment Center.

This is a sample of twenty-four police interactions with Dave from Christmas until the end of January. There are 539 interactions on file. Dave has multiple warrants for his arrest in two western provinces including two mental health warrants for his apprehension. None of these warrants are enforceable in British Columbia.

Confounding Tenancy Argument Leads to Arrest of Break and Enter Suspects

In the beginning of January our officers were called to a local apartment building where two roommates were having trouble getting along. The original tenant had invited a “friend” to “couch surf” for a while but due to his propensity for hostility, and violence, he was no longer enjoying his company and wanted him out. According to the surfer though, the original invitation had soon became a subletting agreement and it was the original tenant who lacked any social skills. He claimed that money  had exchanged hands for rent while the other denied it. He even produced some receipts.

The officers determined that there was a strong likelihood that this was a civil tenancy dispute and not really a police matter. They left after advising the two that they should work it out like adults. After all, the home is one’s castle and just who’s castle it was could not be determined at that time.

A few days later the police were called back to find that the original tenant had moved out and the surfer had changed the locks. The now moved out tenant just wanted to get some things, including his TV. The surfer claimed that the tenant owed him money and it quickly became confusing with no proof of ownership available for any of the items in question.  Again, the two were told to work it out and they agreed.

Later, we received a call from the landlord of the building in question stating that they hadn't received any rent from the occupant of the suite in  a month and some other person had moved in without permission. This was potentially a criminal matter so, again, we attended. This time the surfer produced a lease agreement with his name on it. The landlord was contacted but, due to the time of night, it was decided to try and work things out the next day. So, the surfer was left in place.

The next day police re-attended in an attempt to finally work things out but the surfer barricaded himself within the suite and refused to answer the door.

Now, some people may not understand or agree with this but the police do not move people out of homes unless it is absolutely clear that a criminal offence has, or is likely to, occur. We normally attend to ensure things remain peaceful while the civil process of eviction takes place and is carried out by others. Therefore, it was decided that further investigation should be undertaken to determine whether or not this was clearly a criminal matter and, if so, how things should proceed and remain peaceful. It was during this investigation that it was confirmed the lease agreement presented by the surfer earlier was falsified and no agreement to lease ever existed.  

Meanwhile, and seemingly unrelated, another officer attended to  a local pizzeria for a report of a break in. Upon arrival it was found that someone had broken into the business over night, disabled the CCTV camera’s, stolen some items, and then spread several large industrial sized bags of flour all over the place “causing quite a mess”.

Although the camera’s had been rendered inoperable, they have a habit of continuing to operate right up to the point that they stop. Therefore, the cameras clearly captured two males breaking in along with some “good face shots”. The pizza shop staff immediately recognized one of the two males as the surfer, who was a recently fired employee.

As police prepared the report to Crown Counsel, and an arrest warrant request for the surfer, the pizza shop staff called in to say that the surfer had just walked past the store and had gone into a business across the street. Members descended upon the area and, after a brief attempt to elude police, he was taken into custody rounding out his total of police interactions to 80.

It was about this time that  information came to light that the surfer had started subletting the illegally occupied apartment to another male. Strangely enough, to one matching the description of the second male seen breaking into the pizza shop. In turn, it was learned that he was currently out and about with a large pink suitcase.

It should be noted here that you really cannot make this stuff up.

Sure enough, it was not long before an eagle eyed officer located a male pulling a large pink suitcase. It was, indeed, the second break and enter suspect. He was arrested and found to have an uncomfortably large knife stuffed down the front of his pants “for protection”… contrary to all four of his court ordered release documents from the lower mainland.

Members contacted the landlord to inform them that the apartment would probably be empty for quite some time now and they attended, took possession of the suite, and changed the locks.

Minute-by-minute with VicPD’s D-Watch on New Year’s Eve 2013

New Year's Eve is traditionally a busy night for VicPD. This year, Sgt. Fairburn and members of VicPD's D-Watch were on night shift patrolling the streets of Victoria and Esquimalt and taking what ended up being many calls for service. As one of two in the role of "Road Boss" that night, Sgt. Fairburn created this minute-by-minute account of VicPD's New Years Eve 2013. A typical Wednesday night shift would see between 40-60 calls for service. This night saw 130.

1730 hrs. Sign on and there are four calls for service holding.

Seven members are off at a stabbing where the victim has multiple stab wounds. One stab wound was to his head and his overall condition is unknown. There is a chance that he may lose the use of his eye and he is uncooperative, refusing to provide any information.

Another four members responding to hold-up alarm.

Several other units tied up on lower priority calls.

Only two clear units available.

Clear units to remain clear in case another emergency call comes in and the four holding calls to wait.

1754 hrs. Respond to a male overdosing on crystal meth. Upon arrival he is conscious and breathing, which slows the ambulance response time down.

1759 hrs. Call from the public of a man down, The male's condition is unknown. Turns out he's drunk himself into unconsciousness.

1820 hrs.  Ambulance on the scene of the overdose.

1830 hrs. Members dispatched to help a male in cardiac arrest in the Fernwood area. Members arrive along with ambulance and fire fighters.

Three of the original four calls for service are still holding.

1830 hrs. Briefing outlines contingency plan for potential failure of the CREST radio system tonight.

1844 hrs. First impaired driver of the night receives a 3 day driving prohibition.

1845 hrs. The man from the cardiac arrest passes away. Coroner are notified and Victim Services called out.

1858 hrs. Member the public calls and reports an impaired driver in the Gorge Road area. We circulate the area but are unable to locate it.

1902 hrs. As members clear from the earlier high priority calls they begin volunteering for the holding calls.

Now there's only one of the original holding calls left.

One unit transporting a prisoner from dayshift to Wilkinson Rd. jail. Another unit at the Royal Jubilee Hospital assisting an RCMP member with an uncooperative patient.

Four clear units, including the K9 unit.

The only call holding is someone reporting their cell phone having been stolen from the day before. We attempt to contact the complainant and learn they have gone out for the night. The call is then stacked for the following day shift to follow up.

1913 hrs. Several members respond to a domestic dispute between a mother and her daughter. "Lots of yelling and screaming". The mother describes her daughter as "having a previous brain injury and now is extremely high on meth".

1952 hrs. Another domestic between a couple. No violence but things escalating.  Members arrive in time to help things settle.

2005 hrs. Members dispatched to the hospital to transport a prisoner back to cells.

2021 hrs.  Members dispatched to a random male yelling and screaming on the street for no apparent reason. He was difficult to locate but eventually he was found several blocks away. He was drunk and lost. Members sent him home in a taxi.

2105 hrs. Members dispatched to a homeless shelter to remove a homeless man who was not welcome. It turns out he had several outstanding warrants for his arrest as well.

2107 hrs. Prisoner transported from cells to the hospital due to medical concerns.

2114 hrs. Members locate a male, known to them, with an outstanding warrant walking down the street. He's arrested and lodged in cells.

2128 hrs. Restaurant staff call because two customers are fighting.  One punched the other in the face and things are getting out of hand.

2128 hrs. Purveyors of liquor call police as one of their customers just punched another one of their customers in the face.

2130 hrs. Special duty members arrive. Extra officers have been called out in anticipation of a busy night.

2131 hrs. The first large noisy party call comes in.

2132 hrs. Members respond to a call of an unresponsive person found laying on the floor of their apartment.

2144 hrs. A citizen calls in and reports a possible impaired driver in the area of Blanshard and Fairfield. Units flood the area but are unable to locate it.

2154 hrs. Dispatched to a call of an angry man in a downtown parkade. Apparently he's upset about receiving a ticket.

2203 hrs. Second large noisy party call of the night comes in.

2204 hrs. Members dispatched to prevent a suicide.

2208 hrs. All attempts to revive the unconscious person fail. Corner notified.

2215 hrs. Impaired driver the tries to leave a house party and backs into his friend's Mustang. Homeowner dragged him out of the car, against his will, and took the keys away from him.  Driving prohibition issued, friend not happy.

2222 hrs. Unconscious male laying on the street after being punched in the face. BC Ambulance Service responding along with police. Victim was transported to Victoria General Hospital for treatment and the suspect arrested for assault.

2224 hrs. Male approached another man, asked him for a smoke, then punched him the face. Suspect fled, located, and arrested for assault.

2231 hrs. Members dispatched in response to a 21-year-old girl crying and screaming with possible alcohol poisoning.

2237 hrs. Abandoned 911 call. Upon call back and angry, intoxicated, and uncooperative male answered and refused to provide any information. He then hung up. The communication center staff called back and an intoxicated, uncooperative, female answered the phone. She stated that she didn't know the identity of the man in the residence. Members were dispatched to check her well-being.

2247 hrs. No clear units.

2255 hrs. Domestic in progress. Female can be heard screaming for help. Units arrived to find the domestic was only verbal.

2253 hrs. Members dispatched to two ladies fighting. One screaming "I'm going to slice your throat".

2253 hrs. Third large party complaint of the night called in.

2316 hrs. Six calls holding for service and no clear units.

2318 hrs. Members dispatched to assist BC Ambulance Service with a 15-year-old so intoxicated his companions were concerned that he had alcohol poisoning.

2329 hrs. Report of a large party that has now turn into a large brawl.

2322 hrs. Call of a domestic dispute between an elderly couple who have been married for 50 years.

2337 hrs. A large party approximate 60 people turning into a fight up and down the street. Members arrived and located a 17-year-old female unconscious from alcohol consumption. Home renter stated he invited a couple of people over and the party ended up being crashed by numerous people he did not know. His window had been kicked out and he was not very happy.

2340 hrs. Members happen upon a female so intoxicated she could not walk.

2341 hrs. Call of another altercation, approximately six people swearing and fighting.

Happy New Year

0001 Saanich Police requesting Victoria members to circulate our northern border for a stabbing suspect. K9 tracking south towards Victoria. Suspect still in possession of the knife.

0004 hrs. Large party slipping out of control. People fighting and swearing.

0009 hrs. People fighting inside a night club. Two arrested.

0016 hrs. Seven calls holding and no clear units. 

0021 hrs. Unruly female patron punches a bouncer in the face after being asked to leave a night club.

0028 hrs. Unconscious female found inside a night club.

0035 hrs. A report of twelve people fighting in a James Bay hotel.

0040 hrs. Caller reporting an intoxicated male falling down in the middle of the road and bleeding from the head.

0054 hrs. Complainant reporting that they had just struck an intoxicated pedestrian with their vehicle and then the pedestrian jumped up and fled into a large house party. They were concerned for his well being and waiting for police to arrive.

0100 hrs. Fifteen calls holding and no clear units.

0102 hrs. A unit transporting a prisoner back to cells came across and intoxicated female laying on the ground in her party dress and a puddle of her own vomit.

0104 hrs. An intoxicated female stumbled into a nightclub barely conscious and barely able to walk. All she wanted to do was to sleep on the floor. Staff call for police to remove her.

0015 hrs. A report of two people fist-fighting in a bus stop with a young lady trying to break it up.

0017 hrs. Report of people fighting inside a late-night food establishment throwing chairs around. Subjects fled westbound into the night.

0128 hrs. Subject from the chair throwing incident located at Blanchard and Cormorant by a witness.  He attempted to flee into the back of a taxi but was taken into custody without incident.

0132 hrs. Report of a male wandering the halls of an apartment building carrying a machete.

0148 hrs. Report of six people fighting and one person laying on the ground unconscious.

0153 hrs. Lady called complaining that she was being chased by multiple people armed with guns.

0159 hrs. Staff from a local nightclub restraining a male who was yelling that "I carry a gun."

0159 hrs. Another group of people fighting. Report one male being kicked in the head.

0200 hrs. Bars are open for an extra hour tonight... because it's a special occasion.

0200 hrs. Patrolling unit locates a domestic in progress at the rear the local night club. Male taken into custody for assault.

0209 hrs. 53 files for service generated since midnight. Five large party calls waiting for police attendance. No clear units.

0215 hrs. Report received a domestic in progress out on the street.

0222 hrs. Report of another domestic in progress. Male apparently going "nuts" and throwing chairs around.

0231 hrs. Members come across several males fighting in the street.

0235 hrs. Victim from a previous assault becoming violent with paramedics in the back of the ambulance.

0242 hrs. Fight out on the street with a male unconscious on the ground. Suspect fled eastbound.

0300 hrs. Extended bar closing time. 14 calls holding for service, 65 calls for service since midnight, no clear units.

0310 hrs. Members responded to a suicidal person with a knife. Prior to police arrival a family member attempted to disarm the suicidal person and suffered a knife wound.

0330 hrs. Another homeless shelter calls to have another person removed due to their behavior.

0332 hrs. Patrolling members come across several males pushing and shoving each other outside of a local nightclub.

0343 hrs. Members attended to an abandoned 911 call. On callback a female stated that the police were no longer required. On arrival it turned out that it was a domestic dispute .While members were interviewing the subjects the downstairs neighbor came up and attempted to stop police from investigating. When told to leave the neighbour became violent with police. He was arrested for obstruction.

 0355 hrs. Another impaired driver stopped and a 90-day driving prohibition issued.

0359 hrs. Intoxicated female found wandering the streets with a large gash to her leg. She was transported to the hospital for treatment.

0401 hrs. Another domestic between husband-and-wife. Male stated there were numerous weapons in the house but none of them were being used. Upon arrival the female is bleeding from a wound to her leg.

0404 hrs. Two fights in two different locations coming in at the same time.

0409 hrs. Another fight at a late night restaurant, two males in custody.

0411 hrs. 11 calls holding her service.

0416 hrs. Another call a fight inside an apartment. Complainant states that it sounds "heavy and physical".

0440 hrs. Saanich Police attempt to stop a vehicle at Blanshard and Bay. The driver refused to stop and the two occupants bailed out of the vehicle while it was still rolling. Victoria Police members attended the area to assist and both suspects were taken into custody after a short foot pursuit. Meanwhile the vehicle rolled to a stop against an electrical utility box.

0530 hrs.  Communication Ctr. states that since 1800 hrs., December 31, 2013, until 0530 hrs. January 1st, 2014,  we have taken 130 calls for service, 82 since midnight.

'Hot' Vodka Leaves Cyclist Cooling His Heels in Jail

On November 5^th, 2013, two VicPD officers attended to a local liquor retailer in the area of Fort Street and Foul Bay Road for a theft complaint.

Once they arrived they learned that a second theft had occurred between the first complaint and their subsequent arrival.

The retailer had an excellent digital imaging system and the officers watched both thefts and made notes of the suspects descriptions.

The second of the two thefts involved a male who had his right pant leg partially rolled up. In policing we call that a clue and the officers formed the opinion that he was likely a cyclist. He selected two rather expensive bottles of Vodka and left the store.

Less than an hour later those same members were in the area of Cook and Haultain streets searching for a male who had been seen trying the door handles of parked cars as he walked along. It was dark by this time and the officers were checking to see if any vehicles had been entered when their attention was drawn to a cyclist riding without lights or helmet.

Both officers immediately recognized the male as the Vodka thief from earlier.

The suspect was stopped and arrested. Both 1.75 L bottles of Vodka were gone but, in exchange, he had a quantity of methamphetamine in his possession.

Undead Alarm System No Match for Multi-Tool Wielding Cop

On November the  5^th, 2013, a resident of Vic West found herself at wits end in her attempts to deal with an unruly home alarm system.

She had been living in her home for ten years and had never had much thought of the alarm the previous owners had installed. As far as she knew it wasn't even hooked up.

That was until she started her home renovations. As a result of some electrical work the alarm decided to come back to life late in the evening when she opened up her sliding patio door to let her dog out. As the alarm siren blared she fruitlessly attempted to stop it from waking her neighbours. She called the alarm company who had no record of her as a customer or even the previous owners account.

After a while the alarm stopped sounding and she decided to keep the doors and windows shut until she could deal with the situation in the morning. That was when she discovered the living room motion detector was also working, and the alarm went off again.

Without the appropriate security codes, there wasn't much the alarm company could do to help her and there was nothing she could do to deactivate the alarm. She tried disconnecting the battery but, ten years ago, the alarm company had installed a hard wired backup to prevent such tampering from fooling the system and the alarm continued blast.

It’s at times like this that people realize there’s not much help out there and one of the few organizations you can call for help is the police.

So, armed with absolutely no electrical knowledge what-so-ever, a police officer was sent to assist.

When the officer arrived and entered the home, the alarm went off again.

He tried several rudimentary technical solutions which failed and he quickly determined that force was required.

Deploying his duty belt mounted multi-tool, and bringing to bare no less than three attachments, the offending siren was left silent and compliant upon the laundry room floor.