Whistler RCMP are looking into an on-ice incident during a hockey game that saw a player assault a referee before Christmas.
Staff Sgt. Steve LeClair confirmed the incident happened during a game on Dec. 21 and involved a player punching the official several times in the side of his head.
“The complainant indicated … he had been assaulted during a hockey game where he was a referee,” he said.
LeClair added the suspect was a player on the losing team of the hockey game and was unhappy with one of the calls made during the game. He said the man was being escorted to the penalty box when he dropped his gloves and began punching the victim in the ear.
However, LeClair said the victim of the assault did not want to press charges, but reported the incident to police to have a record of the event. He added police are investigating and could pursue charges based on a variety of factors.
Card skimmer found
On Dec. 21 RCMP were informed that a skimming machine and pinhole camera were found on an automated bank machine at a hotel in the Village.
LeClair said police seized the equipment that could allow the suspects to gain access to personal banking information of those who used the ABM.
“We are examining the device to see if we can access images of the suspects installing the equipment,” he said, adding people should always be vigilant to protect their personal information. “When you are using an ABM or any kind of bank machine, make sure it looks legitimate and doesn’t have any added on parts.”
Craigslist fraud reported
On Dec. 21 RCMP were contacted by a complainant who reported a fraud that occurred over Criagslist.
LeClair said the UK resident transferred $900 to rent a unit that was already rented when they arrived in Whistler.
Because the transactions occurred in the UK, LeClair said the complainant is going to follow up with police there.
Meanwhile on Dec. 23 police were informed of another fraud through Craigslist. LeClair said the complainant attempted to rent accommodation and transferred $571 to a bank account in Florida.
“When they arrived the unit was already rented out to somebody else,” he said.
Another complaint of rental fraud was reported on Dec. 25 in relation to an address on the 2200 block of Nordic Drive. LeClair said the complainant sent $550 to a Susan Hepner, which is a pseudonym known to police in connection in connection with previous fraud investigations.
On Dec. 27 a report of fraud over Craigslist was received in relation to a company called VAC Rentals. LeClair said the complainant informed police they paid $750 to rent a place for two nights, but when they arrived the owner said they had not listed it for rent.
Storage lockers broken into
Several storage lockers were reported broken into on Dec. 25 according to LeClair.
He said one complaint came from the 4600 block of Blackcomb Way and a $2,500 road bike was reported taken. LeClair added 10 of the 14 storage units in the building were accessed by the suspect using prying and cutting tools, but the bike was the only item reported stolen.
The same day storage lockers in a Village hotel was reported broken into. LeClair said 15 of the 45 lockers were found open however only three reported snowboards taken, each worth $800 including bindings.
Vehicle stolen
A Ford Ranger pickup truck was reported stolen to police on Dec. 23 from Whistler and recovered on the Chance Creek Forest Road.
LeClair said the truck was last seen at 2 a.m. and was discovered missing 5:15 a.m. and is being examined for forensic evidence.
Meanwhile the same day two incidents of vehicles being broken into were reported. One was from a vehicle in Day Lot 5 that had its read driver side window broken to gain access sometime after Dec. 22 at 7 p.m. and before 8:15 p.m. the next day.
An iPac, Macbook and clothing were stolen. Meanwhile $500 worth of wrapped Christmas presents were stolen from a vehicle parked in the underground parkade.
On Christmas Day a vehicle was broken into in a parkade on the 4500 block of Chateau Boulevard.
No injuries in collision
There were no injuries after a head on collision that occurred on Dec. 24 on the In-shuk-ch Forest Service Road.
LeClair said the accident occurred at the ½ kilometre mark on the service road between an eastbound Chevrolet Suburban and a westbound truck.
He said the point along the road the collision happened on a corner that makes it hard to see oncoming traffic. Both vehicles were going 20 km/h and road conditions were a contributing factor.
“Both vehicles were inoperable having sustained heavy front end damage,” LeClair said. “Given the road conditions and the nature of the roadway in that particular location the police officer determined charges would not be appropriate.”
911 hang up leads to charge
RCMP were called to the bus stop on Village Gate Boulevard on Dec. 27 after a 911 hang up.
While there, LeClair said officers observed a person jaywalking and stopped them. He said while that person was cooperative with officers that spoke to him another male approached and began to be belligerent.
LeClair said that man was uncooperative and swore at the police, and his behaviour escalated after he was asked to move along several times.
“He became more aggressive and was poking his finger toward the police officer’s face,” he said, adding officers arrested him for causing a disturbance and he resisted. “He put up a significant struggle on the ground.
“He was taken to the detachment, where his demeanour changed and he became apologetic.”
The Australian man, who has been a resident of Whistler for several years, is also facing obstruction charges as a result.
