Squamish RCMP last week arrested a man as part of an investigation into a report of a purported kidnapping that authorities now say "appears to have been a hoax."
Police officers, including members of an emergency response team, responded to a report on Friday (Jan. 7) indicating that a Squamish resident had been kidnapped and a $10,000 ransom was being demanded, RCMP Sgt. Murray Watt said in a statement.
Police "entered into a hostage-taking protocol" outside a home in Garibaldi Highlands, Watt said. That included police calling in an emergency response team and setting up a surveillance watch outside the home. Police officers were on the scene throughout the night, or more than 12 hours, Watt told The Chief in an email.
On Saturday (Jan. 8) morning, a male emerged from the home and was arrested. Police are now investigating the matter on suspicion of extortion and public mischief, Watt said.
Attempted thefts suspected
Last Tuesday (Jan. 4) at 3 a.m., a resident of Guilford Drive in Valleycliffe reported having seen a male lurking in the driveway of a home next door with some sort of tool in his hand. Police arrived to find the gasoline lid of a truck in the driveway was open. Police suspect the man was trying to steal gasoline, Watt said.
The previous night, at a business in the 38100 block of Loggers Lane, someone attempted to steal copper wire from a business. The wire had been cut but not removed, Watt said. Because the price of copper is around $4 per pound, there has been an increase in the number of copper thefts locally, with 20 reported copper thefts since April 1, 2010, he said.
Three injured in crash
Last Wednesday (Jan. 5) at 7:40 p.m., police, fire and ambulance personnel responded to a two-vehicle collision on Highway 99 north of the Alice Lake intersection. Traffic was stopped in both directions while emergency workers extracted one of the drivers.
Three people were transported to Squamish General Hospital for treatment, and the injuries to one of the three were severe enough to require transport to Lions Gate Hospital in North Vancouver, Watt said. A ticket was issued to one of the drivers for driving too fast for the conditions, he said.
At 8 a.m. on the same day, a two-vehicle collision occurred on Highway 99 near the Culliton Creek Bridge. The driver of a Toyota pickup had attempted to pass a Chevy Suburban where no passing lane existed, Watt said. When the Toyota's driver realized that, he swerved back into the lane and struck the Suburban, which was forced into the ditch.
No one was injured, and the driver of the Toyota was ticketed for passing on the left unsafely, Watt said.
Ex-tenant faces court date
On Friday at 6:20 p.m., a man who had been evicted from his home in the North Yards area tried to use an axe to get back into the apartment. Police, responding to a 911 call from the landlord, arrested the man for breach of a recognizance and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose. The man is set to appear in court in North Vancouver.
Suspected theft under investigation
OnMonday (Jan. 10), a man entered a business on Tantalus Road and tried to return items to the store without a receipt. After a store employee told the male the manager would have to OK a refund, the man became nervous and left the store, leaving the product behind. When the store inventory was checked, it was determined that the item had been stolen from the store. Police are investigating the theft, Watt said.
