Salt Spring RCMP

On October 26, 2022 at approximately 2:30 pm, a cyclist was travelling north in the 100 block of Fulford-Ganges Road, in front of Embe Bakery. At the same time, the driver of a motor vehicle was crossing Fulford-Ganges Road at Seaview Ave. The driver of the motor vehicle crossed Fulford-Ganges Road in the path of the cyclist which resulted in the cyclist colliding with the side of the motor vehicle. The cyclist was cared for by bystanders until Paramedics arrived on the scene and was subsequently airlifted to Victoria as a precaution. Thankfully the cyclist was wearing a helmet at the time of the collision, the driver of the motor vehicle remained on the scene and is cooperating with police. Salt Spring RCMP would like to say thank you to the bystanders who remained on the scene to provide care to the cyclist and who provided statements to assist police in their investigation.

Collision on North End Road

As of October 1, 2022, Salt Spring RCMP have now responded to 2,217 calls for service so far this year. In this last 3rd quarter of the calendar year, Salt Spring RCMP responded to 857 calls and conducted an additional 400+ Foot Patrols in Centennial Park and other Island areas. SSI RCMP members conducted an additional 125 licenced premises checks (bar walks) and issued over 200 violation tickets and traffic warnings over this 3rd quarter. As part of the 850+ calls during this 3-month period, SSI RCMP responded to 12 firearms offences, six (6) sex-related offences, 106 mental health-related calls and 20 impaired driving reports. Regarding traffic statistics, 12 No Insurance violation tickets were issued and 25 Motor Vehicle Incidents (collisions) were attended by Police. Multiple frauds were reported during this quarter with monies taken by fraudsters reported to be in excess of $67,000.00. Many of these frauds …

Salt Spring RCMP started their first annual "Cram the Cruiser" campaign on September 20, 2022 at Country Grocer just in time for Thanksgiving. Generous Salt Spring residents were able to fill the entire patrol car with non-perishable food items as well as cash donations of more than $1000. All donations were taken to the Salt Spring Island Food Bank this afternoon. The donations were greatly appreciated and went along way to filling the empty shelves. Salt Spring Island RCMP will be holding another Cram the Cruiser later this winter at Thrifty Foods in anticipation of an increase in demand around the Christmas holiday season. I would like to thank all Salt Spring residents who generously supported this very worth while cause. A special thank you to Country Grocer who's support to make this a success is greatly appreciated, stated Sgt. Clive Seabrook, Detachment Commander for the Salt Spring Island RCMP.

On September 6, 2022, at approximately 8:00 a.m., Salt Spring RCMP officers responded to a parking lot on Jackson Rd after receiving a report that a man was passed out in a car. Officers attended the area and conducted a traffic stop with that vehicle and determined that the driver, a 26-year-old man of no fixed address, appeared to be under the influence of an illicit drug. As a result of the investigation, the driver was arrested and a search of his vehicle yielded multiple baggies of prepackaged suspected methamphetamine. Police also located scales, drug paraphernalia and a relatively large amount of cash which were seized. The accused is scheduled for his first appearance in Salt Spring law court in January 2023. Police will continue to focus attention on those trafficking illicit drugs, especially those that contribute to the toxic drug supply poisoning those suffering with addictions. said Sgt. Clive Seabrook of the Salt Spring RCMP.

Collision on Vesuvius Bay Road - Photo: Salt Spring RCMP As of April 1, 2022, Salt Spring RCMP responded to 654 calls in the first three (3) months of the year. In addition to these 654 calls, SSI RCMP conducted 48 licenced premises checks (bar walks), 254 foot patrols in Centennial Park and other areas, and issued 119 warnings/violation tickets for traffic-related offences. Of the 650+ calls, there were 67 mental health-related calls (10% of call volume in this quarter), 9 firearms calls, 9 sex-related offences and 16 motor vehicle collisions. Police also responded to downed power lines, child custody issues, snow-related traffic hazards, mischief including multiple acts of graffiti, multiple assaults and multiple drug/alcohol-related offences. In the first quarter of 2022, some of the calls are detailed below: January: a male was apprehended and transported to Hospital after making suicidal comments Police were called for a male smashing the windows of a veh…

The Salt Spring RCMP would like to recognize the passing of Salt Spring resident Mr. Jose Gaspar. Mr. Gaspar was a long time supporter of the RCMP and the Salt Spring Island detachment. Mr. Gaspar’s support of the RCMP is attributed to his grandson Matt Gaspar joining the RCMP. Cst. Gaspar is currently posted to the E Division Major Crime Section where he is part of the Integrated Child Exploitation Unit. Since Mr. Gaspar’s passing, Sgt. Clive Seabrook has heard many stories of Mr. Gaspar’s support of the RCMP. Once example of this was in response to the tragic death of four RCMP Officers in Mayerthorpe, Alberta in 2005. Upon hearing of this tragic news, Mr. Gaspar arranged for four Dogwood trees to be planted on the Salt Spring Island RCMP detachment property in memory of the four fallen officers. On April 6, 2022, the Salt Spring RCMP planted a Dogwood tree at the Salt Spring Island detachment in memorial of Mr. Gaspar. The tree was planted in the same location that …

The BC RCMP has notified the Independent Investigations Office of British Columbia of an incident on Salt Spring Island in which one man has been injured. Just after 3:30 p.m. on April 2, 2022 frontline officers from the Salt Spring Island RCMP were called to a serious, single vehicle collision in the 200-block of Stewart Road, where all occupants had reportedly been injured. Prior to arriving at the scene, officers received updates that the driver had fled on foot. Officers located the driver in the 400-block of Cusheon Lake Road, and noted he was injured. He was detained by police and allegedly resisted officer’s attempts to take him into custody. BC ambulance personnel attended to assess the man at the scene however he was subsequently transported to a local area hospital by police. The man was later transferred to a larger area hospital for treatment of serious injuries. The IIO BC has been notified and will be investigating the incident in an effort to determin…

As of December 31, 2021, Salt Spring Island RCMP responded to 2,948 calls throughout the year, averaging 8 calls per day. This is a decrease of 30 calls from the 2020 call volume which totalled 2,978 calls for that year. Of the near-3,000 calls this year, there were 520 mental health-related files, 505 traffic-related complaints, and 112 calls to Centennial Park and the downtown area. Dozens of sex-related offences were reported to SSI RCMP; an additional 56 calls involved COVID-19 and/or Provincial Health Orders and enforcement. 122 motor vehicle collisions were reported and Police responded to 40 firearms-related offences. Over the course of the year, Police conducted over 1,300 foot patrols in the Centennial Park and downtown areas. Police also gave presentations at some of our local schools and participated in various community events. In the 4th quarter of 2021, there were 684 calls for service between October 1 and December 31; in addition to the near-700 calls for …

On Friday December 10, the Salt Spring RCMP conducted an investigation on a local property Beaver Point Road. Throughout the morning several police vehicles and officers were deployed to the property for a report of a serious incident. This property was reported to the Salt Spring RCMP as being part of a very serious allegation, and the officers did their due diligence in thoroughly investigating it said Sergeant Clive Seabrook, Salt Spring RCMP Detachment Commander. The owner of the property, and those located there were fully cooperative, and it was determined that the allegations made were unfounded. No one was arrested, and no further investigation is ongoing. The Salt Spring RCMP appreciate the patience of those who may have been affected while this investigation took place. Released by Sgt. Chris Manseau Division Media Relations Officer BC RCMP Communication Services

Salt Spring RCMP responded to 886 calls in the 3rd quarter of 2021 (July 1 – September 30) and as of October 1, 2021, have responded to 2,263 calls for service thus far this year. Various investigations undertaken in this quarter include a child pornography distribution file, 31 assaults, 33 sex-related offences and 9 weapons/firearms investigations. There were also multiple COVID-related reports, 36 motor vehicle incidents/collisions (MVI’s) and 144 mental health/check well-being reports. SSI RCMP issued 51 traffic tickets, gave 97 traffic warnings and conducted 340 foot patrols in Centennial Park and other areas; 65 bar walks were also performed and a dozen impaired drivers were taken off the road. Traffic enforcement was conducted all over Salt Spring Island but special attention was made to seatbelt use around Ganges, speed enforcement on Cusheon Lake Road and Long Harbour Road, as well as compliance of school and playground zones. Some of the calls in the last few mo…

On August 20, 2021, Salt Spring RCMP received a report of an MVI in the 500 block of Lower Ganges Road. While traveling north on Lower Ganges Road, the rider of a moped crossed the centre line and collided with a pick-up truck traveling south on Lower Ganges Road, in the opposite direction. The rider of the moped was visiting Salt Spring Island with her family from Alberta, she was airlifted to Victoria with serious but non-life threatening injuries.

On August 19, 2021, Salt Spring RCMP received a report of two men arguing on the Ganges Centennial Docks located near 127 Fulford Ganges Road. Witnesses reported seeing one of the men retrieve what appeared to be a handgun and point it at the other man. Thanks to a witness who quickly called 911 and provided a detailed description of the suspect, Salt Spring RCMP located the male suspect a short distance from the dock. The suspect was taken into custody without incident; neither of the two males were injured. Incidental to arrest, the suspect was searched and a replica pellet handgun was seized. Charges of Uttering Threats and Possession of a Weapon for a Dangerous Purpose are being recommended. The suspect is due to appear in Salt Spring court on November 19, 2021.

The 2nd quarter of 2021, April 1 – June 30, was a steady period for Salt Spring Island RCMP with 728 calls for police response and investigation. The types of reports included, among others, 123 mental health calls, 112 traffic-related calls, 12 firearms calls, 7 sexual offence investigations and 20 COVID complaints. There were 439 foot patrols conducted and 97 bar walks done over this 91-day period. In total, SSI RCMP have now responded to over 1,400 calls since the beginning of 2021. In the month of April 2021, there was a 200% increase in traffic collisions when compared with April 2020, a 33% increase over April 2019 and a 140% increase over April 2018. In May 2021, motor vehicle collisions increased 50% from 2020 and over 125% from 2019. Single-vehicle collisions, multi-vehicle collisions and collisions involving pedestrians with injuries were all responded to during this quarter. Some of the calls of the last few months included the following: April 2021 SSI…

The Salt Spring RCMP are looking for assistance from the public after storing a bike for almost a month. On May 25th a concerned citizen contacted the Salt Spring RCMP stating that they had found the abandoned bike near Mouat Park. This is a pretty unique and expensive bike, someone must be missing it says Salt Spring RCMP Detachment Commander Sergeant Clive Seabrook We’re hoping by asking the public for help and putting out the picture, someone will come to the detachment and claim it Investigators have been in contact with the manufacturer of the bike, and have the serial number from it in an effort to locate the owner. If you know who this bike belongs to, or are the rightful owner, please contact the Salt Spring RCMP at (250)-537-5555

Salt Spring RCMP responded to 646 calls from January 1 2021 – March 31 2021, including, but not limited to, 5 child pornography investigations, 8 sexual assaults, 139 mental health complaints, various traffic violations and multiple COVID-19 complaints. 305 Foot Patrols in Ganges and Centennial Park and 85 Licenced Premises Checks were conducted during this period. Salt Spring RCMP are asking residents to be mindful of online and social media safety: naked pictures or videos sent to an individual or a website can immediately be placed on the internet for all to see, or for sex-based extortion (“sex-tortion”) by the recipient. Threats to post sexual photos/videos to all the contacts on a person’s Facebook page have been made to Salt Spring Island residents. Also, numerous online scams have been reported to Salt Spring RCMP of animals purchased over the internet and monies paid, but the animals are never sent. Police encourage residents to remain aware of fraudsters and online…

The Salt Spring RCMP is seeking witnesses after two vehicles were damaged on Northend Road, near Fairway Drive at St. Mary Lake in the early morning hours of March 28, 2021. For reasons that have yet to be determined, unknown suspect(s) decided to throw rocks at two parked cars. The rocks caused damage to the vehicles including breaking one of the windows. This senseless act was made more dangerous by the fact that both parked vehicles were occupied at the time. Witnesses in the area reported seeing a white Dodge Ram pick-up with dual rear wheels in the area at the time of the incident. Investigators are still trying to determine if the occupants of the Dodge truck are the suspects or simply witnesses to the incident says Salt Spring RCMP Detachment Commander Clive Seabrook What caused someone to do this is unknown. There are far better things to do on Salt Spring than throw rocks at cars! If you know anything about this incident please call the Salt Spring RCMP at …

Last night, on March 8, 2021, Salt Spring RCMP launched an investigation into a series of street signs that were intentionally knocked over by an unknown vehicle along Sunset Drive and North End Road last night. Plastic autobody parts and tire treads were left behind. "Investigators are trying to identify anyone who may have witnessed this vehicle, or who may have dash-cam or other video recordings of any of these incidents," states Sgt. Clive Seabrook of the Salt Spring RCMP. "The majority of these signs were in place to warn of hazards on the road ahead, creating a possible dangerous situation for motorists." Sgt. Clive Seabrook would like to thank our local EMCON Services staff for getting the signs back up as quickly as they did. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Salt Spring RCMP at 250-537-5555. Released by: Sgt. Clive Seabrook Detachment Commander Salt Spring Island RCMP

As of December 31, 2020, Salt Spring RCMP responded to 2,978 calls this year, averaging 8-9 calls per day. There were 745 calls for service between October 1 2020 and December 31 2020; in addition to these 700+ calls for service, Salt Spring RCMP conducted 127 vehicle stops (violation tickets and warnings), 114 licenced premises checks (bar walks) and 362 foot patrols through Centennial Park and other areas. Statistically, this means that of the 92 days in this 4th quarter period, Salt Spring RCMP conducted 1 bar walk per day, 4 foot patrols per day, 1+ traffic stop per day, and 8-9 calls for service per day. Amongst the 745 calls on Salt Spring in this 4th quarter, there were four (4) sexual assaults, 11 firearms calls and 25 COVID-related calls for police response. There were three (3) separate investigations into child pornography/distribution here on Salt Spring Island. There were 113 mental health calls, accounting for 15% of the total call volume in the 4th quarter.…