Hope motorist’s attempt to elude RCMP during traffic stop backfires

HOPE – A motorist in Hope later found to have drugs in his possession thought his attempts to elude police would work by exiting his vehicle and walking away from the scene, but they backfired.

According to a weekly recap of Hope-area police blotter, Upper Fraser Valley RCMP spokesperson Corporal Carmen Kiener says an officer conducted a traffic stop on Flood Hope Road in Hope last Friday, May 1 after observing a driver who wasn’t wearing a seat belt.

Upon stopping the vehicle, the driver immediately exited the vehicle and tried to walk away from the scene. An RCMP member caught up to the man and discovered he did not hold a valid driver’s license.

On top of that, he was found to be in possession of a personal amount of illicit substances, though police didn’t reveal what those substances were.

The registered owner of the vehicle was located nearby and confirmed to police that the driver was a friend who had permission to operate the vehicle, but was unaware that the man was unlicensed.

Corporal Kiener says several violation tickets were issued to the driver and the drugs were seized for destruction.

In other incidents this past week in the Hope-area catchment area, a vehicle was stolen from a driveway on Cottonwood Drive, located east of downtown Hope, on Tuesday, April 28. The owner told police that although the keys were accounted for, a purse and wallet had been left inside the vehicle at the time of the theft. Later that day, the owner located the vehicle abandoned on Flood Hope Road. Several items, including the purse and wallet, were missing. Police attended and completed a forensic examination of the vehicle in an effort to identify those responsible. The investigation is ongoing.

On Friday, May 1, Boston Bar RCMP members assisted the fire department after a train traveling through the area reported a smoking rail car, posing a potential public safety concern. Boston Bar Station Road was temporarily closed at the railway crossing as a precaution. Following a risk assessment, no evacuation of the area was required. No officers or members of the public were injured. The train was assessed, deemed safe, and allowed to continue its route a few hours later.

Over the weekend, police responded to a 9-1-1 call requesting assistance near the Deneau Creek Bridge on Saturday, May 2. Officers located an elderly man whose electric bicycle had run out of power while he was attempting to travel to 100 Mile House. The man was found to be in good spirits and unharmed. Officers assisted by ensuring both he and his bicycle were safely transported to a bus station to return home, providing a much safer and more reliable means of travel.

On Sunday, May 3, officers responded to a report of an ATV collision on Cantelon Creek Forest Service Road. The rider was initially unaccounted for, raising concerns of serious injury. Police immediately began canvassing the area and soon learned the rider had successfully flagged down a passing motorist and been transported to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The rider received medical care, and no further police intervention was required.