PETITION DRIVES AHEAD | Increased transit demands being made to assist working population [A6]
Morning gStar
The
Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2013
P R O U D L Y
Police rule out foul play
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Body found under bridge on 25th Ave. ROGER KNOX Morning Star Staff
Foul play has been ruled out in the death of a Vernon man whose body was found Monday afternoon near a local park. While investigating an unrelated complaint at a nearby motel, police officers were informed that an unconscious man had been discovered beneath a bridge at Linear Park in the 3500 block of 25th Avenue at around 5:30 p.m. “One of our officers attended and found a 55-year-old unconscious man there,” said RCMP spokesperson Gord Molendyk Tuesday morning. “Our officer conducted CPR on him until emergency health services arrived.” The man was transported to Vernon Jubilee Hospital where he was pronounced dead. “No signs of trauma or foul play were found at the scene,” said Molendyk. “The investigation continues to determine the cause of death. The early indications are drugs may have been involved. “ The coroner was advised and is working with Vernon RCMP. No name had been released as of Tuesday, though Molendyk said the man was from Vernon, and had contact with the RCMP on several occasions.
LISA VANDERVELDE/MORNING STAR
Red Bull pro rider Anthony Messere comes out on top in the Silver Style Jump Jam Saturday at Silver Star Mountain’s Free Ride Mountain Bike Festival.
RCMP rescue lost hiker in Spallumcheen ROGER KNOX Morning Star Staff
The keen smell of a police service dog helped find a lost hiker in Spallumcheen. The dog also helped the hiker and its handler walk safely out of the bush in the pitchblack conditions. An officer from Armstrong was dispatched to the end of Reservoir Road in Spallumcheen at approximately 9 p.m. Saturday after the hiker contacted police on his cell phone to say
he had passed the reservoir and was lost. “He dropped his cell phone in some water so now the phone was only working intermittently and was low on battery power,” said RCMP spokesperson Gord Molendyk. The officer attended after obtaining a key to the locked gate, and a police service dog and handler were called to assist in tracking the lost hiker. “They tracked up the hillside while maintaining cell phone contact with the 23-year-
old Armstrong man. “The hiker was recovered and escorted back down to his vehicle,” said Molendyk. “There were no injuries and emergency health services was not required.” The man was spoken to about the dangers of hiking beyond “Do Not Enter” gates, as well as hiking in the late afternoon in to dusk by himself. “He was appreciative for the officers’ efforts and rescue,” said Molendyk.
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