Estevan Police Service (EPS) personnel probably get no special thrill out of long weekends, especially near the end of summer since it is on these occasions that the petty crime and alcohol fuelled events seem to escalate. This past weekend was no different as local police found themselves heading off in several directions in pursuit of bad drivers, bad drinkers or careless thieves.
But first there was a young person who was unsuccessfully dealing with some health issues who was discovered by EPS members. The 21-year-old subject was acting in an unusual manner in an area behind the Estevan Shoppers Mall on the night of Aug. 31. The young man had been spotted by several other people who alerted police and they, in turn, attended the scene after the man had left in a vehicle. It was later learned the young man was dealing with a combination of a health issue plus intoxication which had led to his unusual behaviour. He was subsequently charged with impaired driving and driving while his blood-alcohol level was over .08 per cent. He was taken to hospital for treatment and observation.
On that same night, EPS members arrested and lodged a 25-year-old man for being in a dwelling unlawfully. He had been a guest in a residence but had overstayed his welcome after becoming intoxicated, so he was removed by police and released from custody after regaining sobriety.
An argument between two patrons at a local lounge was resolved with police intervention that same night and no further action was taken.
A 19-year-old man is facing charges of being in possession of a controlled substance after he was found to be holding a small amount of marijuana on the night of Aug. 31. He has a Sept. 19 court date.
A small child who was spotted wandering in an area near a neighbourhood convenience store was the subject of some concern for some local residents, but the parents of the child located him and took him home prior to police arrival.
On the night of Sept. 1, police arrested a 27-year-old man for impaired driving and for failing to provide a breath sample after EPS members had responded to a call regarding a possible impaired driver. The man now has an Oct. 24 court date.
A 25-year-old man who had been banned from a local lounge earlier this year returned to the establishment on the night of Sept. 1 so police attended the scene and found the man outside the premises when they arrived. He was sent on his way with a warning that charges would be laid if he attempted to return. No further action was required.
A 24-year-old man was arrested and lodged in cells after police observed him consuming alcohol outside a licensed premises. Police learned the man was extremely intoxicated and belligerent. He was charged for consuming alcohol in public and for public intoxication.
During the day of Sept. 2, EPS members arrested a 30-year-old man for being intoxicated in public after they found him in an inebriated condition in the north central section of the city.
Police also learned that a vehicle had been broken into in the central part of the city and two iPods were stolen. The next day police were informed that another vehicle had been entered in the south central part of the city and a lap top and an iPod had been taken. These incidents remain under investigation.
A local business on the north side of the city was vandalized Sept. 2. Objects had been thrown through a front window.
A 27-year-old Estevan man was arrested in the central part of the city on Sept. 3 after it was learned that he had attempted to alter a physician's prescription slip in an effort to obtain a certain prescription item(s). The man is now slated for a court appearance on Oct. 24.
A 29-year-old man was arrested for being intoxicated in public during the day of Sept. 4. He was also found to be in possession of a controlled substance, cocaine. He also has an Oct. 24 court date.
Later on in the day of Sept. 4, police learned that another vehicle had been entered and a wallet had been stolen. The vehicle had been parked on a residential street in the central area of the city. A large concrete stone had been thrown through the window which enabled the thief to gain access to the vehicle's interior.
Between Sept. 3 and 4, EPS members were required to attend to several mischief calls including a report that several floral planters had been tipped over on the Souris Avenue north boulevard.
While police were looking into that matter, they were asked to respond to a call from a construction site where witnesses had observed four young people tipping over a sign. Several youth in the area were spoken to and advised to move on, which they did.
Shortly after that incident, police were informed that there was a group of young people drinking by the skate park near the leisure centre and throwing cans around. Several youths who were located in the area were spoken to and they cleaned up the area in question.
The next call was to the city's east side in response to a report of a bicycle being stolen from a yard. The thieves had also set off a vehicle alarm in the process of the invasion.
A call from the south central side of the city bore the information that a window had been broken on a city owned facility, so the matter remains under investigation.
During this period of time, police were asked to attend to several calls to help keep the peace. One call requested the removal of an unwanted guest, who had departed prior to their arrival, while another required police intervention before the unwelcome person departed.
During a street check, police charged one person for being in possession of a controlled substance, several grams of marijuana.
The next call came from a woman who complained she was being harassed by her intoxicated boyfriend. He was located and advised not to make any further contact with her. At the same time a couple of his sober friends removed him from the area in question and there was no further contact made with the woman.
While on a service call for police, a tow truck operator was issued a 24-hour licence suspension when he was noted to have a strong smell of alcohol coming from him while he was performing his job.
A young person was arrested and charged for being in breach of an undertaking on the night of Sept. 4. He was released back into the care of his parents under further conditions.
EPS members also reported that they were required to attend several noisy parties over the long weekend and in some instances the events were required to be shut down.
On the night of Sept. 5, a restaurant in the north central part of the city reported that they had been a victim of crime after a patron left without paying for his meal. This matter remains under investigation.
