Northwest Police Files -- August 2012

Our archive for August of items of note from the files of the RCMP in Northwestern British Columbia.

The RCMP across the Northwest were kept busy with a number of files over the course of
August,  with Northwest Mounties responding to a number of complaints and conducted a variety of investigations.

Among the highlights of the month significant weapons and drug arrests in Terrace Kitimat and Prince Rupert .

Some of the more high profile ones can be found below:

From the North Coast Review:

August 7-- Tragic events mar Riverboat Days weekend
August 2-- The Statistically Mean Streets of Prince Rupert

Media items from across the Northwest:

Prince Rupert

August 30-- Prince Rupert RCMP seize cocaine from apartment on 2nd Avenue West
August 24-- Prince Rupert RCMP says ranking doesn't show drop in crime stats
August 21-- Prince Rupert man faces charges after allegedly altercation in Terrace grocery store
August 16-- Small child hit by motorist while bike riding in Prince Rupert...
August 1-- Prince Rupert ranked second among BC cities in Crime Severity Index

Terrace/Kitimat/Nass

August 31-- RCMP bust alleged bootleggers in Nass Valley
August 29-- Keith Avenue Crash (video)
August 29-- Van and police vehicle collide on Highway 16
August 24-- Eight arrested for intoxication in one night
August 24-- Unlocked vehicles are target for thieves in Terrace
August 22-- Charges Laid After Grocery Store skirmish in Terrace
August 22-- Kitimat RCMP investigate report of Knife Threat
August 22-- Men get taxi ride to police after refusing to pay fare
August 21-- Prince Rupert man charged for incident in Terrace
August 21-- Car dealership vandals sought
August 21-- Cross bow pistol seized at airport
August 20-- Elderly driver ticketed for excessive speed
August 15-- New Aiyansh residents warned about prowler
August 14-- Terrace RCMP Struggle with Increase in Property Offences
August 14-- Police find lost items at Furlong Bay
August 14-- Terrace Council weighs in on crime severity
August 14-- Terrace Crime Numbers (video)
August 13-- Kitimat Robbery Suspect Arrested
August 8-- Crime severity not accurate: Terrace RCMP
August 8-- Lost man found after a night on Shames Mountain
August 8-- Thornhill Robberies
August 8-- Don't drink and drive a quad
August 7-- Police seek robber
August 7-- Police busier at Riverboat Days this year
August 7-- Teen sentenced for downtown arson
August 7-- Tragedies Mar Riverboat Days Celebrations
August 2-- Shoplifter arrested after being kicked out of store earlier in day
August 1-- Five men arrested after vehicle break in
August 1-- Motorhome strikes drive-thru sign, twice
August 1-- City crime rate shoots to top 10

Copper River Road a trouble area for Northwest Fire Centre

Northwest residents that use the Copper River Road this weekend would be advised to keep an eye on their surroundings and be prepared for potential closures as the Northwest Fire Centre keeps an eye on a wildfire burning along the 10 mile mark of the road.

Travellers may experience delays along Copper River Road

The fire which grew in size Friday to close to one hectare, was first spotted on Thursday, smoke will be visible to travellers in the Copper River Road area and those that use the road are advised that flaggers could closed the road when necessary out of safety concerns.

The fire is currently inaccessible to fire suppression crews, they are keeping an eye on its path and will take action when it transfers to more workable terrain.

Terrace Standard-- Wildfire may cause traffic delays
CFTK-- Wildfire burns near Terrace

City Council has questions for NWCC over program plans

It came at the end of a mid summer City Council meeting, the Mayor offering up his surprise and disappointment to learn that Northwest Community College had recently relocated the popular Electrical program from the Prince Rupert campus, centralizing it at the main campus at Terrace.

The Mayor offers up his observations on the issue at the 37:45  mark of the July 30th streaming broadcast of the council proceedings, seeking  a motion from council to request a meeting with NWCC officials to discuss this and other education related concerns that council may have.

It took a couple of prompts from the Mayor, but in the end Councillor Garon seconded the motion, a  situation that provided for further discussion from Councillor Carlick-Pearson on the importance of NWCC in Prince Rupert.

Following those talking points around the table, city staff  was instructed  to seek information from the college as to the reasoning behind the electrical move and perhaps to determine if there are any other local programs at risk as the college continues with its budget cutting.

As has been reported through 2012, NWCC is currently trying to resolve a budget shortfall of up to two million dollars, and with requirements to make up  that shortfall now in place, there have been cutbacks made at many of the campuses across the Northwest.

Council may be a day or two late to try and reverse the electrical program decision by NWCC, but by seeking further information, they at least have the opportunity to send a shot across the bow of the college administrators that they will remain watchful for further reductions at the Prince Rupert campus.

Update:  The Northern View examined the issue on August 3rd with details as to the reason for centralizing the program from the college's perspective as well as further information on the Mayor's thoughts.

Northern View--  Electrical Apprenticeship program no longer offered at Prince Rupert NWCC campus

The Statistically Mean streets of Prince Rupert

Prince Rupert makes a return appearance  to the top ten of the rolls of the criminally inclined, our second year in a row at number eight in combined violent and non violent crime reports.

While it's not quite the days of shoot outs at the streets such as the big cities sometimes face, the latest crime statistics offer up the numerical review of criminal activity weighted by population. From those findings  it would appear that crime remains a bit of an issue for locals, whether they know it or not it seems.

The Northern View provided the details on the latest from the Crime Severity Index, a statistical review that outlines Prince Rupert's placement as second among cities in BC when it comes to the worst of communities in Canada when it comes to crime.

The review tabulates the Crime stats for all communities over 10,000 in population from across the nation.

The statistics are culled from the 2011 report from Statistics Canada, released in June and from that review Prince Rupert ranks 8th overall across the nation in the rankings of violent and non-violent crimes.

When it comes to violent crimes reported, Prince Rupert is in fifth place overall across Canada, second to BC with only Williams Lake to keep us from infamy.

Non violent crimes finds Prince Rupert's ranking as 12th overall in Canada, third in BC trailing Williams Lake and Langley City.

When the overall CSI numbers are compiled, Prince Rupert stakes a claim to 8th spot in the listings.

Alaska moves forward with AMHS Terminal rebuild plans in Prince Rupert

The Alaska Marine Highway terminus in Prince Rupert could very well have a new look in the near future.

According to KRBD radio in Ketchikan, Marine Highway System officials are currently in negotiation with with both the Port of Prince Rupert and Canadian National Railway, seeking a 50 year lease to allow the system to better improve its facilities at the southern end of its state wide ferry system.

In the immediate future is replacement work on the dock and marine structures of the terminal and further along perhaps an improvement to the terminal building itself. The Alaska Ferry Terminal dock has been in need of major renovations for a number of years and has had to be repaired on an emergency basis more than a few times.

AMHS was recently authorized 9 million dollars in  further spending on the proposed project and they plan on seeking US federal funding as they move closer towards the reconstruction plans.

With the security of a long term lease and the prospect of cost recovery, the momentum to move forward is getting closer as far as the Alaskans are concerned.

KRBD -- Rupert terminal to be rebuilt

Update: 

The Northern View posted an item on the AMHS plans on August 4
Alaska to construct new Marine Highway dock in Prince Rupert

CFTK--  Plans for Replacement of Marine Highway Docks
CFTK-- Alaska Ferry Dock update