Powell River RCMP reported the following for December 3 to 9, 2020.
Total calls for service: 82
Thefts: 5
Assaults: 6
Impaired driving: 8
Mischief: 1
Break and enter: 1
December 4; Padgett Road, 4200 block
Powell River RCMP members executed a search warrant at an industrial property and as a result, 1,802 fully grown and ready to be harvested cannabis plants were seized, along with a large amount of growing equipment.
Two Powell River residents were arrested at the scene and later released pending further investigation. This was a highly sophisticated operation, and operations of this magnitude are usually linked to organized criminal groups. Street value of the plants seized is approximately $1 million.
The average illegal cannabis site will produce three to four harvests in a year.
Police are seeing a trend of organized criminal groups using local businesses to conceal their involvement in large-scale criminal operations. Those individuals and businesses could be subject to criminal charges and/or civil forfeiture proceedings.
Over the past year, Powell River RCMP has seized more than 8,000 cannabis plants from clandestine cannabis grow operations in the region.
December 3; Joyce Avenue, 4700 block
At approximately 7:26 pm, RCMP responded to a report of a possible impaired driver at a business. Police attended and found the vehicle running in the parking lot of another business.
Police spoke to the 22-year-old female in the driver’s seat, who displayed signs of impairment. A field sobriety test was conducted and she performed poorly.
The driver was arrested and taken back to detachment where a drug recognition exam was completed. As a result of the investigation, the driver was issued a 24-hour driving prohibition and is facing impaired driving charges.
Anyone with information about these incidents is asked to contact Powell River RCMP at 604.485.6255, or to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 1.800.222.TIPS (8477) or online at bccrimestoppers.com.
NOTICE: RCMP has seen an increase in the number of drug and alcohol impaired driving investigations so far this month. Police would like to remind the public that as the holiday season gets closer, more alcohol and drug impaired driving enforcement will be conducted to keep the roads safer for everyone.
