RCMP News

250-679-3221 ChaseRCMP@rcmp -grc.gc.ca

CRIMESTOPPERS 1 -800-222-8477

By Sgt. Barry Kennedy

Stranger Assault

On October 14, 2021, at approximately 8:00 pm, Chase RCMP received a report of an assault which had occurred approximately 30 minutes earlier in Chase. The victim was a youth. She told Police that she was walking from the skate park to Aylmer Road on the trail through the trees. She was suddenly tripped by something and fell to the ground. A male came out of the bushes and got on top of her. He physically restrained her with one hand and pulled at her pants with his other hand. She struggled to get away, hitting him multiple times in the face with the heel of her hand. She was able to escape and ran. The male followed her and tried to grab her several more times before she finally got away.

She described the male as tall and thin; dressed all in black with a black hoody; and sported a black ball cap. His face was covered by a black mask with a white skull on it.

Police conducted extensive patrols of the park, the trails and the surrounding area throughout the night. Police canvassed the neighbourhood speaking with several people who were in the area and checked with local businesses, but no one recalled seeing or hearing anything out of the ordinary.

As a precaution, local schools were notified of the incident so that staff could discuss safety precautions with their students.

The investigation is continuing.

250-679-3221 ChaseRCMP@rcmp -grc.gc.ca

CRIMESTOPPERS 1 -800-222-8477

Two Vehicle Collision

On October 10 at 5:46 pm, Chase RCMP were requested to ‘be on the lookout’ for a blue Ford F150. Police received multiple reports of a driver speeding excessively and consistently driving recklessly. The vehicle was last seen on the Trans-Canada Highway near Lafarge exit, travelling eastbound. All Chase members responded immediately to intercept and stop the vehicle as quickly as possible. While Police were looking for the vehicle, they were flagged down by another motorist who said a serious collision had just occurred further up the road. Police arrived at the collision within minutes and observed a blue Ford F150 down an embankment, upside down. The driver was still in the vehicle with what appeared to be serious injuries. She was assisted by Police and Good Samaritans until Ambulances arrived. Chase Fire Rescue was required to assist with her extraction.

The three occupants of a second vehicle, a grey Silverado, suffered minor injuries in the collision. They were also assisted by passersby until paramedics arrived. The highway was closed to allow for a landing zone for the Air Ambulance.

An investigation by Police determined that the blue F150 crossed the centre line on a curve and struck the side of the oncoming grey Silverado. The driver of the grey Silverado swerved, likely preventing a head-on collision. Alcohol is believed to be a factor in this collision. The matter is still under investigation.

Erratic Driver

On October 3 at 3:59 pm, Chase RCMP were advised of a possible impaired driver travelling eastbound on the Trans Canada Highway toward Chase. The complainant reported that a red Dodge pickup was all over the road. The driver was red in the face and slumped over the steering wheel. A second complainant reported that the vehicle was passing on double solids and speeding in a construction zone. Police responded immediately and stopped the vehicle just outside Chase. The driver had glassy eyes, slurred speech and had trouble following direction. Based on his physical symptoms and his driving behaviour, Police suspected his ability to drive was impaired by alcohol. The driver, a 32-yearold male from Chase, refused to provide a sample of his breath into an alcohol screening device. The penalty for refusing to provide a breath sample is equivalent to providing a breath sample that results in a ‘Fail’. The driver was therefore prohibited from driving for 90 days and the vehicle impounded for 30 days.

Car Fire

On October 3 at 4:01 pm, Chase RCMP were requested to attend a car fire in a field off Kamloops Shuswap Road. Police attended and observed that the fire was spreading from the car to the dry grass. One member of the Adams Lake Fire Department attended and valiantly extinguished the fire with a water tank and hose. The registered owner of the vehicle, a black PT Cruiser, claimed that he gave the vehicle away some time ago. The current owner is unknown, nor could the cause of the fire be determined.

Check Wellbeing

On October 5 at 3:39 pm, Chase RCMP were advised of a possible abduction. Kamloops RCMP received a report that a female passenger tried to exit a blue Kia while it was stopped at an intersection in Kamloops. The driver pulled the passenger back into the vehicle and departed eastbound on the Trans-Canada Highway. Chase RCMP located the vehicle on the highway near Chase and conducted a traffic stop. The driver and passenger were a mother and an adult daughter. Together, they explained that the mother was transporting the daughter to a treatment facility. At one point, the daughter panicked and tried to jump out of the vehicle. Police confirmed that the daughter was in the vehicle by choice. Both parties were calm and continued on their travels.

Break and Enter

On October 5, Chase RCMP were advised of a residential break and enter and theft in Pritchard. The complainant had been out of town for several days. Upon his return, he discovered that someone had been in his house and some things were missing. Investigation determined that the point of entry was an unlocked window. Missing items included paperwork, power tools, jewelry and his car. A forensic examination was conducted of the residence and evidence was collected. The following day, a neighbour spotted the car parked in the woods near Silver Beach Lane. The car was recovered by Police and examined for further evidence.

Scared Each Other

On October 12 at 1:19 am, Chase RCMP were advised of suspicious persons on Squilax Anglemont Road near Lee Creek. The complainant reported that two males in hoodies and masks were standing on the side of the road, shinning flashlights into vehicles that drove past. Police attended and eventually located a young couple huddled in an outhouse, trying to keep warm. They explained that their ride bailed, leaving them stranded and cold. They told Police that they were trying to catch a ride but were quite unnerved by a vehicle that drove past them slowly several times. This turned out to be the complainant.

Scotch Creek Homicide Investigation Remains a Priority

By Jo Anne Malpass

RCMP have no updates to provide at this point but “the investigators have assured me that the investigation is continuing to progress and remains a priority for the Southeast District Major Crime Unit,” RCMP Senior Media Relations Officer Staff Sergeant Janelle Shoihet told the Kicker.

On June 25 at 5:46 am, Chase RCMP responded to a report of a shooting at the car wash in Scotch Creek. At the scene, they found 32-year-old John Vance of Scotch Creek, who had been shot and who subsequently died of his wounds. An adult male was taken into police custody at the time but was later released unconditionally.

Major crime investigators are asking anyone who may have seen or interacted with John Vance during the early morning hours of June 25 and have not already spoken with police, to call the RCMP Southeast District Major Crime Unit information line at 1-877-987-8477.