RCMP

One sign sits on top of a rock in front of some trees. The other sign has the part with lettering removed, so that all that is visible is an empty frame on top of a cement block.

RCMP investigating acts of vandalism on Highway 16

May 28, 2024 by Dan Mesec

Police are asking the public for help as they investigate allegations of mischief and vandalism.

Along the lower Skeena River there are several Nations that claim the same territory and recently tensions have flared up after signs erected by both the Kitsumkalum Band and Lax Kw’alaams were vandalized, set ablaze and cut down along Highway 16 near the Skeena.

“The RCMP in Prince Rupert did receive a report of mischief to property, numerous signs were vandalised,” RCMP North District Media Relations Cpl. Madonna Saunderson told CICK News. “The cost to replace these signs is well over $5,000 and the RCMP have an on going investigation and are looking to the public to provide information to move this investigation forward.”

In April the Kasiks Wilderness Resort reported their entry sign was set on fire, a camping and outdoor adventure resort recently purchased by Kitsumkalum near Terrace. Then in May, Lax Kw’alaams erected signs on Highway 16 that were cut down just days after they were put up.

The official banner for Canada Road Safety Week 2024. It advises drivers to not drive impaired, distracted, or aggressively and wear a seatbelt.

Canada Road Safety Week will focus on impaired driving and more locally this long weekend

May 15, 2024 by Tonya Organ

Aimed at making our roads the safest in the world, Canada’s Road Safety Week is underway and officers are participating locally.

The RNC will team up with the RCMP and Highway Enforcement officers to check drivers and vehicles on roadways into this long weekend. RNC Cst. James Cadigan says the campaign is designed to increase public compliance with safe driving measures to save lives and reduce injuries on our roads. This year’s campaign theme is “Road Safety — Every Road. Every Day. Everyone.” Cadigan says the focus continues to be on the elimination of impaired driving, distracted driving, aggressive driving, and driving without a seatbelt.

Other stories in this CKVB Newscast include Grenfell Campus convocation is tomorrow, Corner Brook staff issue a survey on the 2Billion Trees project, and tours at the new Western Memorial Regional Hospital this weekend.

– With files from Dean Clarke.

The photo is taken outside. Four bikes lean on a stone wall. The four bikes are all black with white tags hanging on the handle bars. They are lined up one in front of the other

Stash of believed stolen bicycles found by Nanaimo RCMP

April 22, 2024 by Lauryn Mackenzie

The Nanaimo RCMP are looking for the owners of serval bikes they believe to be stolen.

The RCMP reported on Friday, April 19 that a stash of bikes was recently found in a woody area near Jingle Pot Road and Third Street.

As the springtime brings more people outside using their bikes, the Chief Outreach Officer for Project 529 Rob Brunt speaks to CHLY about the importance of protecting your bike from theft.

He also talks about how Project 529 allows riders to register their bikes to a database allowing community members, bike shops, and police to identify stolen bikes to the original owner.

Two tshirts, one white and one black with the

Sexual Violence Awareness Month looks at unique challenges in northern communities

April 15, 2024 by Pamela Haasen

April is international Sexual Violence Awareness month and the Northern Society for Domestic Peace is working to tackle the unique challenges of facing violence in small, remote communities.

Airika Owen and Carol Seychuk work at the Northern Society for Domestic Peace in Smithers, BC. They talk to CICK News about Sexual Violence Awareness Month and some of the resources available to reduce violence.

One of the things they talk about about is a system in place in B.C. for reporting sexual violence or aggression called Third Party Reporting. Third Party Reporting is a system for alerting the RCMP (or local police) to someone who has shown signs of being violent, or who has a known or suspected violent past and the person who files that report is not required to press charges. This reporting system makes a huge step in making it safer for people to let police know there is someone in their community that is worth keeping an eye on.

(Warning: this interview may be disturbing to some listeners as it discusses sexual violence).

A man in a vest saying Police and a short sleeved blue police shirt smiles at the camera in a busy coffee shop.

‘Coffee with a Cop’ comes to Sackville

April 11, 2024 by Erica Butler

Officers from the Southeast District RCMP hosted an open house event at the Tim Horton’s on Main Street in Sackville on Friday.

Sergeant Martin Janson organized the ‘Coffee with a Cop’ event, which is also happening in other communities throughout the Southeast District in recent weeks. It is part of a larger trend of similar events happening across North America.

Janson was joined by Sackville’s community police officer Melanie Belliveau, as well as Sackville detachment Sergeant Eric Hanson, who took a moment near the end of the session to speak with CHMA.

About 30 people dropped in to meet with the officers during the two hour event Friday morning. Among them were members of Tantramar council, councillor Mike Tower and Mayor Andrew Black.

In the foreground of the photo is a sign with a white background and blue and red writing that reads: Queen Victoria Hospital and Health Centre emergency drop off. In the background of the photo is a parking lot with cars parked in front of a beige coloured building. There are also trees and a mountain covered in snow.

Revelstoke RCMP investigate early morning shooting

March 20, 2024 by Melissa Jameson

Revelstoke RCMP are investigating after a man with a gunshot wound was left at Queen Victoria Hospital this past Thursday.

Revelstoke RCMP say they were made aware of an injured man who walked into Queen Victoria Hospital at around 6 a.m. on March 14. The victim, who is well known to police, was treated for non life-threatening injuries.

The Revelstoke RCMP General Investigation Section is working to determine what happened. In a media statement, RCMP say a possible scene has been identified, but has not yet been confirmed.

BC RCMP spokesperson James Grandy said the investigation is in its early stages, but it is believed to be an isolated incident with no threat to the public at this time.

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact the Revelstoke RCMP at 250-837-5255 or anonymously by calling Crime Stoppers at 1800-222-8477.

RCMP says weekend stabbing an ‘isolated incident’ and calls for witnesses

March 19, 2024 by Erica Butler

Residents of Sackville and area are reeling from the death of a Sackville man over the weekend.

Shawn Mitton was found by police on Saturday evening with a serious stab wound. He was brought to hospital via Ambulance NB, and later died in hospital as a result of his injuries.

The New Brunswick RCMP Major Crime Unit is investigating Mitton’s death as a homicide, and have arrested and charged two Sackville men, Tyler Murphy and Dylan Murphy, with second degree murder.

CHMA spoke with RCMP spokesperson Hans Ouellette about the police response so far.

A woman wearing glasses and a black blazer sits at a podium in front of four Nova Scotia flags.

N.S. Auditor General to file RCMP complaint against provincial Liberal party

February 28, 2024 by Haeley Dirisio

Nova Scotia’s Auditor General Kim Adair held a news conference Tuesday to discuss findings of what she suspects was an attempt by the Liberal Party of Nova Scotia to hide or delay the announcement of party funds being misused.

The information obtained by Adair revealed that the association tried to conceal and delay the release of documentation that party funds were misused during the 2021 provincial election, she states.

Adair’s report suggests that thousands of dollars of “questionable transactions” were made by a former Liberal party employee. The report also outlined details that the party took months to supply her office with the results of an audit.

“Considerable time and resources were spent dealing with this lack of compliance to our access provisions granted under the Auditor General Act and delayed our ability to report on this matter to the House of Assembly,” Adair wrote.

Adair is planning to file a formal complaint with the RCMP on the matter. Leader of the Liberal party Zach Churchill said he supports the the auditor general’s report and urged police to look into the situation further.

A poster in orange and white with the words "Missing Person" and "Britanny Jean Schram" on the left. The image features tip information and photos of Brittany Jean Schram, indicating that she has been missing since the holiday season of 2023. If you have information, please reach out to the Prince George RCMP at (250)561-3300 or anonymously contact Crime Stoppers at 1(800)222-8477 or online at www.northernbccrimestoppers.ca Image Credit - Felix Jean

Search Renewed For Brittany Jean Schram – Last Seen in Prince George BC

February 16, 2024 by Ian Gregg

Jean Felix has been looking for her sister Brittany Jean Schram since the holiday season. Recently, she was able to renew attention to the case, as it was escalated to the RCMP’s Serious Crime Unit.

Felix attended the recent Women’s Memorial March, and has been actively traversing downtown Prince George in the hopes of networking and finding someone who may have a tip.

If anyone has information regarding the last time they saw Brittany Jean Schram, or her current whereabouts, they can contact the Prince George RCMP at (250)561-3300. Alternatively, individuals may anonymously contact Crime Stoppers at 1(800)222-8477, or online at www.northernbccrimestoppers.ca. Individuals do not have to reveal their identity to Crime Stoppers.

Photo of Crystal Saunders, a murdered Metis woman from Manitoba.

Manitoba murder case of Métis woman finally solved 17 years later

January 30, 2024 by Vanessa Landriault

The killer of Crystal Saunders, a 24-year-old Métis woman who was murdered in Manitoba in 2007 years ago, has finally been found.

The Royal Mounted Canadian Police (RCMP) released the name of the suspect earlier this week, along with an explanation of how the advancements in DNA have helped them discover the murderer. They found evidence of DNA on Crystal’s body, but the DNA was unable to be linked to someone until 2014, when DNA technology became more advanced. Kevin Queau became a lead suspect soon after, but arrests were only made this year due to lack of evidence.

For more information on this story, please visit the RCMP page.

For this story and other regional and national stories, listen to the ELMNT News Brief.

Underneath a vehicle, the exhaust system is visible. The catalytic converter is mission from the exhaust assembly. Exposed cut-off ends of pipe are visible amidst the underside of the vehicle. Photo Credit - Ian Gregg

Thieves with drills — crime using power tools a growing problem in Prince George

January 25, 2024 by Ian Gregg

Power tools such as drills, hammers and saws aren’t just being used in construction these days. They are also being used to commit crimes.

Conversations surrounding power tool assisted crimes and theft have grown more common in Prince George over the past year. Fuel and catalytic converter thefts have popped up in many online forums, conversation, and in-person chit chat.

Multiple members of CFUR’s audience asked them to look into this type of crime.

For some first-hand experience on the receiving end of these crimes, they take the conversation all the way up to UNBC campus where a departmental vehicle was damaged by thieves with power tools.

Dr. Eduardo Martens, Associate Professor in the Faculty of Environment at University of Northern British Columbia, had his department’s research interrupted. And Corporal Jennifer Cooper of the local RCMP detachment walks us through the local realities of these power tool assisted acts of theft.

A screenshot from Facebook in various shades of orange and purple announcing a public meeting.

New Years Eve fire rocks the community of Smithers

January 15, 2024 by Pamela Haasen

On New Years Eve, a teenage party on the 4500 block of Henry Road ended with horrific burns to some of the people attending.

According to the RCMP, someone threw a type of fuel on the fire which caused severe injuries to two teens and non-life threatening injuries to four others who were hospitalized locally.

In the wake of the trauma caused by this event, community organizations have had to respond quickly to the first wave of affected individuals rocked by what they saw. Teens were at the house when it happened, their parents received alarming text messages and phone calls, and many people have not been able to avoid hearing horrific stories from the night.

CICK News talks to Amy Stokes and Mark Dehoog of the Northern Society of Domestic Peace in Smithers, which is part of the Bulkley Valley Critical Incident Response Team. They spoke about the role of the team and the support that it provides to people in psychological or emotional distress following a critical incident.