Busy week for Minnedosa RCMP

By Cpl. Brian Huff
Detachment commander, Minnedosa RCMP

A busy week for Spruce Plains Area with the Neepawa Homecoming and the warmer weather. Minnedosa members responded to 17 calls for service locally in addition to assisting with traffic control and calls for service over the Homecoming weekend. Normally, I restrict this report to events that occur in the Minnedosa Area but seeing how we were mingled up for the weekend, you'll find a couple of Neepawa related incidents as well.

An elderly patient of the Minnedosa Hospital sparked our attention on the evening of the 13th when he went missing from his room. Thankfully, the gentleman misunderstood the doctors directions, packed up his stuff and drove home where he was located later that evening. As well, members responded to another missing elderly person from the Gladstone Care home on the evening of the 14th. This one decided to wheel down (in his wheel chair) to a local dance and get his groove on. I only hope I have that much stamina in my later years.

As most of you are aware, members along with the Neepawa Fire and EMS were dispatched to a residential house fire in the town of Minnedosa at 8:30 PM on the 14th of May. The fully engulfed single story bungalow on 3rd Avenue SW ignited some large spruce trees and as a result, the adjacent single story bungalow also caught fire.

Minnedosa Fire Department contained and extinguished the blaze before any further properties were affected. The members of the fire department should be commended for their quick and professional response to what could have been even more serious had it not been for their outstanding efforts. The initial home is considered a total loss. The second home is damaged by fire and smoke. An estimate of damage for either properties is not known at this time. There were no injuries as a result of this incident. The property representatives were able to evacuate the buildings prior to the fire spreading and have been provided shelter by local members of the community. A portion of 3rd Avenue SW was closed by Police for 6 hours during this incident for reasons of public safety and scene security.

The Office of the Fire Commissioner in conjunction with the RCMP have completed their investigation after sifting through the remains until 2 AM the following morning. The fire has been ruled "electrical".

Members concentrated on traffic enforcement throughout the weekend and followed up with liquor related offences during the evening. I was driving down Main street in Neepawa on Saturday when much to my surprise, I observed living renditions of Starsky & Hutch lurking near the Home Hardware. Looking to get an autograph from the ray ban wearing bandits, I wheeled around the block and much to my chagrin, they had disappeared. Wondering if I perhaps needed another cup of coffee or donut...out of the corner of my eye, appears my version of Hutch....standing behind the Bargain Shop pulling back on a cold one (and I don't mean iced tea). Long story short, they poured out their new case of beer and fine in hand, were on their way back to the beer vendor.

Here's where it gets even better. Not more than an hour later....I hear the same boys being queried by another officer. These boys had picked up another case of beer and were caught yet again. This time however, they were next to their vehicle and the officers found some drugs as well as the liquor. My partner in press (Cst. Devoe) will expand on this one I'm sure on the Neepawa side so be sure to look for his article!

Speeder of the week goes to a 19 year old fellow from Brandon when he was stopped on Highway #10 in the RM of Minto traveling 126 KPH. That's a fine of $381.25.

For the golfers out there, the Emergency Services Golf Tournament is a "GO" for launch this year. The Tournament will once again be held at the Minnedosa Golf Course on Monday June the 7th. Shotgun start at 1 PM and following 18 beautiful holes of golf, your appetite will be extinguished with a well prepared meal at the same location. Carts are available by calling the Golf Course directly and you can register at the Minnedosa RCMP by calling or dropping by. We look forward to spending the day with you!!

Have a safe week!