Wednesday March 20, 2013 www.saobserver.net $1.25 GST Included
Police nab charity scammer Arrest: Kelowna man also linked to reports of fraud in Salmon Arm.
By Tracy Hughes OBSeRVeR STAFF
A 22-year-old Kelowna man has been charged with multiple counts of fraud, theft, impersonation and using false pretenses after he was arrested in connection with a credit card skimming operation that took place in Kelowna, and may be linked to similar cases in Salmon Arm. On March 16 at 1:30 p.m., the Kelowna RcMP responded to a complaint of a possible fraud. A man wearing an Id card and stating that he was collecting donations on behalf of the Ronald Mcdonald House charity had apparently just taken money from a resident with the use of a portable debit device. The resident immediately phoned Ronald Mcdonald House and was advised that this was an ongoing scam. She provided police with a description and the suspect was taken into custody a short distance away. This story is strikingly similar to the reports from Salmon Arm. The man was identified as James Alexander Graham, who is known to police and remains in custody to appear in court on Tuesday, March 19. neighbourhood inquiries indicated that Graham had canvassed the area and there were further victims. Subsequent investigation also revealed that this may be the tip of the iceberg, with more than 47 victims in just a few days in both Kelowna and Salmon Arm. On the weekend of March 2 and 3, a number of residents in the lakeview Meadows subdivision were targeted. The scam continued into the next week at various locations in the city, with local RcMP issuing a public warning about the charity credit skimming scam. Graham has been charged with four counts each of fraud under $5,000, theft under $5,000, impersonation and using false pretences. More charges may be recommended pending further investigation. RcMP are advising people that may have been a victim of this scam to call the Salmon Arm detachment, and report any compromised credit cards to your financial institution.
JAMEs MurrAy/OBSeRVeR
En garde
Ryan Schmitt practises his fencing footwork with an épée as fellow fencing student Aiken Webster trains in the background. The pair travel down the valley to Vernon and Armstrong to participate in the sport, which dates back to the 18th century. For more on their exploits, see the story on A21.
City to add stop signs
Marine Park crossing: Safety concerns prompt intersection changes.
By Lachlan Labere OBSeRVeR STAFF
A new three-way intersection will be established at the Marine Park drive railway crossing in response to safety concerns raised by Transport canada. city council approved the intersection as recommended in a report by engineering and public works director Rob niewenhuizen. This will result in the placement of three new stop signs where Marine Park drive connects to lakeshore – one leaving Marine Park, another to the north-east side of Marine Park drive for
This week The SilverBacks have to win to stay alive in the playoffs. See a recap of the action on A22. The mission to rescue 15 donkeys from Vancouver Island is underway. See more on A8.
traffic coming into town, and the third directly across from Marine Park drive for traffic heading northeast up lakeshore. The three-way stop is one of four recommendations from a traffic impact analysis conducted by the city in response to a May 3, 2012 Rob letter of notice from TransNiewenhuizen port canada railway safety Public works inspector dennis Maskell. In the letter, Maskell raises a number of safety concerns witnessed
during a March 22, 2012 inspection of the intersection, including an “ever-present possibility of a vehicle being hit by one or more trains while trying to engage this T-intersection without the right of way,” adding there is “virtually no road storage capacity after the railway tracks for vehicles trying to access lakeshore drive.” niewenhuizen said the See Drivers on page A2
Index Opinion ....................... A6 View Point .................. A7 Life & Times ............... A8 Time Out................... A12 Sports............... A21-A25 Arts & Events ... A26-A29 Vol. 106, No. 12, 48 pages