On August 15, 2012 members of the Osoyoos RCMP responded to a report of a suspicious backpack that had been left on the side of 42nd Avenue in Osoyoos. Inspection of the backpack contents led police to believe a marihuana grow operation had been dismantled in the area. A further search of the area located two garbage bags full of harvested marihuana plants. Members conducted neighbourhood enquiries and came across an old house on 107th Street that appeared to have been broken into. A side window was smashed. The abandoned house was inspected and was found to be the source of the found marihuana plants and production equipment. The house had been used primarily as a marihuana grow operation before it was broken into and the grow stolen. Police are still investigating the matter and are looking into who was responsible for the grow operation.
On August 28, 2012 members of the Osoyoos RCMP acted on evidence gathered during Project E-Predicate and obtained a search warrant for a residence and property in the 100 block of Hewitt Road in Osoyoos. During the search of this suspected marihuana grow operation police seized 701 marihuana plants in various stages of growth as well as the specialized equipment used by the suspects in the production and trafficking of marihuana. Also seized was a 26 foot travel trailer that had been stolen in 2005 from Alberta and a .12 gauge pistol grip shotgun that was being stored unsafely. The property owners, a 50 year old male and 44 year old female, both residents of Kelowna face potential charges of Production of a Controlled Substance and Possession of a Controlled Drug or Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking.
On September 3, 2012 at 7:00pm the Osoyoos RCMP responded to a report of an impaired driver at the Osoyoos Port of Entry. A 44 year old male resident of Chilliwack was driving south bound on Highway 97 while intoxicated and drove onto the Port of Entry property through the exit lanes. The male then drove his van over a curb and through a sign before coming to a stop. The driver and sole occupant was detained by CBSA officers for suspicion of impaired driving. The driver was transported by police to the Osoyoos RCMP detachment where he provided breath samples. The results of his breath samples showed his blood alcohol concentration was 3 1/2 times the legal limit. Over the past week the Osoyoos RCMP have dealt with 6 different driver’s for alcohol related infractions. This includes 3 day warning suspensions as well as 90 day driving prohibitions for those that blew over the legal limit.
If you see crime happen – call Crimestoppers or you local detachment of the RCMP