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Vol. 61, Issue 181
Proudly serving Cranbrook and area since 1951
www.dailytownsman.com
Former Cranbrook men among Hell’s Angels arrested in Spanish bust KIM BOLAN Vancouver Sun
Two former Cranbrook residents are among the four Canadian Hells Angels accused of attempting to distribute 500 kilograms of cocaine in Spain. Two full-patch members — Jason Cyrus Arkinstall (formerly of Cranbrook, now of Mission) and Chad John Wilson of Haney — were among the men arrested in a coffee bar by Spain’s National Police. The othermen facing charges in Spain are Scott Smitna (formerly of Cranbrook) and Michael Dryborough, associates of the Hells Angels in Mission and Haney. Spain’s Interior Ministry revealed details of the investigation Saturday and released a video of the arrests of the four, but did not identify them by name or hometown. The video shows police running into the café, wrestling the men from their chairs to the ground and handcuffing them. Police did not say when the arrest happened. The Spanish government said the four were involved in an attempt to smuggle cocaine from Colombia to SUBMITTED
A SUMMER OF GOOD DEEDS: Natasha Rose, 8, had a summer of doing good for others. She raised money during a family garage sale to donate to the Calgary Zoo, supplementing that by selling her crafts and putting out a donation box. Natasha ended up raising $60 for the zoo. Just before school started, Natasha cut off her long hair and has donated that to “Locks of Love,” where it will be made into wigs for children who have lost their hair due to medical circumstances.
Cranbrook councillor heads to UBCM championing two-tiered policing A RNE PE TRYSHEN Townsman Staff
A motion that could see a two-tiered policing system put in place in the province will go before the Union of British Columbia Municipalities at a meeting this week. Coun. Sharon Cross first put forward the motion in council and was headed to the meeting in Vancouver, which goes from Sept. 16 - 20.
Cross said she put forth the motion as policing costs all over B.C. are rising. “With the new 20-year agreement (with the RCMP), the cost to municipalities is going to continue to rise and we felt that we needed to do something different in terms of looking at policing models,” Cross said. She alluded to Alberta, which has the Peace Officer Act. “What they really have is a
two-tier policing system,” she said. “The RCMP deal with major crimes: drugs, guns and gangs. “That allows the peace officers to deal with other provincial and municipal acts such as traffic safety issues, community engagement around youth, community outreach programs and bylaws.”
See UBCM , Page 4
Jason Arkinstall
the Galician coast of Spain on a sailboat. One of the B.C. bikers was on the vessel, while the others were waiting in Spain. The Canadian bikers were arrested in Pontevedra, a port in the northwest of Spain.
See ARKINSTALL, Page 3
Officer charged over Cranbrook shooting has first court appearance TOW N S M A N S TA F F
Court proceedings have began for a Cranbrook police officer charged over a shooting last October. Cst. Richard Drought did not appear in person for his first court hearing in Cranbrook Provincial Court on Monday, September 16. Drought faces charges of unlawfully discharging a firearm over an October 2 on-duty shooting in Cranbrook. Drought is represented by Vernon lawyer Richard Hewson. A senior prosecutor from Victoria is in charge of the case for the Crown. The court case will next be in Cranbrook court on Monday, October 21.
Cst. Drought has been charged with intentionally discharging a firearm into a motor vehicle, knowing that another person was in the motor vehicle, and of intentionally discharging a firearm while being reckless as to the life or safety of another person. The man injured in the incident was Nickolas Bullock. According to RCMP statements at the time, a police officer was stationed at the southwest end of Cranbrook conducting a road block when he saw a suspect vehicle. The officer tried to pull over the vehicle; when it did not stop, the officer gave chase.
See OFFICER , Page 3