Cross Lake RCMP, Traffic Services and CREST unified their efforts this past week in curbing violent crime during the Cross Lake Trappers Festival.
Between February 28 and March 3, several RCMP Traffic Services officers made their way to Cross Lake to team up with Cross Lake RCMP officers and the North District Crime Reduction Enforcement Support Team (CREST) during the Cross Lake Trappers Festival weekend.
Extra patrols were made during the festival to deter crime by increasing police visibility in the area and reducing alcohol-related offences that can often turn violent.
The patrols, which included PTH 39, Highway 6, along with PRs 373 and 374 with the focus on the community of Cross Lake, resulted in the following:
- 150 vehicles checked at three Checkstops done in Jenpeg and Cross Lake
- 3 Controlled Drugs and Substances Act seizures resulting in one charge
- 1 warrant for arrest was executed on outstanding drug charges
- 30 Liquor Control Act tickets were issued resulting in 70 cases of 24 beers, three bottles of liquor (26 oz.) seized
Criminal Code charges:
- 1 Disqualified Driver under the Criminal Code
- 1 Fail to Provide a Breath Sample
- 1 Breach of Undertaking
Highway Traffic Act charges:
- 23 speeding tickets were issued
- 11 seat belt tickets
- 3 suspended drivers
- 24 other miscellaneous HTA charges
Two Off-Road Vehicle Act charges and two warning tickets were also issued.
Each charge or arrest sends a message and makes a difference when it comes to the safety and the well-being of the community.
In 2012, the Cross Lake Trappers festival resulted in officers responding to 88 calls for service during the weekend with several high-risk calls in nature. This year, officers responded to 71 alcohol-related calls and nine unrelated calls for service over the weekend. However, violent crimes were non-existent during the weekend.
