The organizer of an unsanctioned snowboard event on Blackcomb Mountain who advertised drugs as prizes on social media is being charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking as a result.

Whistler RCMP Staff Sgt. Steve LeClair said last Wednesday (Dec. 12) officers attended the ski hill looking for an event called Ganjam, which was promoted on Facebook and offered marijuana for the best snowboard tricks.

LeClair said at 12:35 p.m. a snowboarder rode past plain-clothed officers at the top of the terrain park saying the word “Ganjam” repeatedly. He said offers then observed the male stop and open his backpack, which is when they observed cans of beer and a megaphone.

“He then opened the front pocket and showed another male what was believed to be marijuana,” LeClair said, adding officers then followed him down the hill and eventually stopped and arrested him.

When they searched his backpack RCMP said they found Ziploc baggies containing a total of 18.2 grams of marijuana, a bag containing 26 joints, some hash and a bong.

The 22-year-old Quebec male, who resides in Whistler, will appear in court on Jan. 30.

Emergency beacon reminder

RCMP are reminding the public to use emergency beacons or spot locators only in situations where a real emergency exists after a distress signal was sent last Wednesday by someone locked out of their car.

LeClair said Pemberton RCMP received the signal from the Joffre Lake Provincial Park around 8 p.m.

“Officers attended and found a male who pushed the distress signal … because his locks were frozen (on his vehicle) and he panicked because it was getting cold,” he said, adding a passing motorist stopped to help before police arrived. “The police would like to remind the public to use these beacons sparingly and for true emergencies.”

B&E in Cheakamus

On Monday (Dec. 17) RCMP received a complaint of a break and enter to a residence in the 1300 block of Cloudburst Drive.

Officers attended and the complainant showed them a garage that had been rummaged through with no signs of forced entry. LeClair indicated approximately $30,000 to $40,000 in designer clothes and shoes, a bike and miscellaneous snow sport equipment were reported stolen.

Nightclub assault

RCMP were called to a Village nightclub on Sunday (Dec. 16) to assist with six Abbotsford males that were being evicted after they were involved in a fight.

“On the weekend these people were observed several times behaving aggressively,” LeClair said.

He said the fight broke out between the group of men and another male on the dance floor, with there being one main aggressor. An employee who witnessed the altercation, he added, intervened and evicted the suspects. However, LeClair said the victim refused to cooperate with police and said he did not know why he was assaulted and would not identify suspects.

A 23-year-old Abbotsford man was arrested for breach of probation as a result of coming to the attention of police during the altercation.

Hotel ruckus

An altercation between two groups staying at a Whistler hotel on Saturday night (Dec. 15) saw police called twice to intervene.

LeClair said officers responded at 10:55 p.m. when a group of males threw a beer can at another group, striking a man in the head and causing a laceration. He said at 2:39 a.m. the police were called back when several people associated with the man who was hit with the beer can went to another room in the hotel to confront those who threw it.

During the ensuing confrontation one of those connected with the man hit by the beer can is alleged to have removed a fire extinguisher, struck another person in the face and then discharged it into the hotel room. LeClair said officers on scene encountered the man with the extinguisher in his hands and arrested him and another male, while two others fled the scene.

The victim who was hit with the extinguisher suffered significant lacerations to his eye and had to be taken by ambulance to the medical centre.

Sexual assault report being investigated

Whistler RCMP are investigating a report of a sexual assault during the early morning on Sunday in the 2200 block of Lake Placid Road.

LeClair said the victim alleges she went home with a male from a local nightclub and was subsequently sexually assaulted by another male in the residence.

“The investigation is ongoing with statements being taken by those involved,” he said, adding all involved in the incident have been identified. “We are examining the circumstances to determine if there is enough evidence to proceed with charges.”

Criagslist rental fraud

LeClair said last Thursday (Dec. 13) RCMP received a complaint of rental fraud of Criagslist.

He said the complainant from Calgary paid $1,375 deposit via Paypal for a five-day rental of a home in Kadenwood, however the rental address does not exist.

Car thefts reported

Several car thefts were reported on Sunday, said LeClair, including one in the 4500 block of Chateau Boulevard in an underground parkade. He said the passenger side window was broken and personal belongings missing from the vehicle.

The same day a purse and wallet were reported stolen from a BMW that was parked in Day Lot 1 between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. The rear passenger window of that vehicle was broken to gain access.

A vehicle parked in an underground parkade in the 7500 block of Seppo’s Way between 8:45 and 10:30 p.m. was reported broken into and the driver’s side rear window broken. A red backpack was stolen with $400 worth of items taken.

“As the Christmas season approaches, don’t leave gifts in cars — conceal everything in your trunk,” LeClair said.

Ticket for no wrong tires

Whistler RCMP issued a ticket to a driver that went off the road on Highway 99 on Monday for not having the proper tires for winter driving conditions.

LeClair said officers were called to the scene in the morning near the Callaghan Valley exit. The ticket was issued to a 26-year-old Burnaby male, but while officers were on scene with their emergency lights flashing another vehicle was involved in a fender bender with the police cruiser and another car on the highway.

LeClair said that driver was given a ticket for following too closely and there were no injuries reported.