A Matlock area man is facing numerous charges after being arrested by police for making a false claim about boaters in distress.
On July 31, 2012, at about 10pm, Gimli RCMP were dispatched to a complaint of a boat in distress on Lake Winnipeg, near Gimli, Manitoba. Initial reports indicate the caller advised that a boat had capsized with as many as 16 people on board, with 13 of them being in the water.
RCMP, Canadian Coast Guard, local emergency services and a Hercules, deployed out of 17 Wing in Winnipeg, were dispatched from CFB Trenton. A Coast Guard vessel eventually located the craft with one adult male aboard about 1 km from shore near the Winnipeg Beach harbor. The distress call was determined to be a hoax and alcohol is considered to be a factor.
Police say that the boater, a 36-year-old man from the Matlock area, remains in police custody and is facing a number of charges. The investigation is continuing.
Update 08/02/12 10:49am
James Scott, age 36, has been charged with impaired operation of a vessel/boat, impaired care and control of a vessel/boat and public mischief. Additional charges are being contemplated, police continue to investigate.
