KAMLOOPS THIS WEEK TUESDAY
LOCAL NEWS
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OCTOBER 18, 2016 | Volume 29 No. 126
INGRAM ON NATIONAL TEAM’S RADAR Kamloops Blazers’ goalie continues to impress
A28
‘Hunch’ tosses drug bust CAM FORTEMS
STAFF REPORTER
cam@kamloopsthisweek.com
A specially trained Mountie who stopped a rented truck on Highway 5 North and found $60,000 worth of cocaine was acting on “a hunch” rather than for legitimate reasons, a provincial court judge has ruled. As a result, the cocaine cannot be entered as evidence and the Crown was forced to drop a charge of possession for the purpose of trafficking against Zobair Afzali. Const. Eric Thompson pulled over Afzali’s rented truck in Barriere in November 2014, testifying he was suspicious because it was travelling slightly below the speed limit. A database search determined the truck was registered to a Vancouver firm and was linked to 24 recent police investigations. See JUDGE, A6
ROOF REMOVED Westsyde pool building repair job proceeds
TODAY’S WEATHER Cloudy High 13 C Low 6 C
A23
Poachers shoot, butcher pregnant cow RANCH OFFERS $25,000 REWARD FOR INFORMATION LEADING TO CONVICTION CAM FORTEMS
STAFF REPORTER
cam@kamloopsthisweek.com
A $25,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for shooting a pregnant cow, butchering the back legs and tenderloins and leaving the rest of the animal on the ground. The poaching took place on Saturday on the Fish Trap Corrals on Westsyde Road. Dorman Ranch manager Jason Bishop said cowboys found the carcass Saturday during a round-up on the range shared by four operations. Another wounded cow was found nearby, shot in A poacher shot and killed this pregnant cow at Fish Trap Corrals at Dorman Ranch before butchering its back legs and tenderloins. the face. That animal has been treated, but its Friday, Oct. 14, and dis- general manager Those surveys indiOkanagan were also prognosis is uncertain. covered the next day. of B.C. Cattlemen’s cate about 10 per cent killed and butchered in “They knew exactly Near the carcass Association, said inciof losses are attributed identical manner. what they were doing,” were tracks from an dents of rustling or to criminal activity — a Boon said a more Bishop said of the Jim would like Sale ends this Sat. Oct. 22nd- little larger please ATV. killing and abandoning ballpark estimate of 500 typical loss is five or six poachers. “They did a “Whoever did this is cattle is “not as uncomso it stands out, thanks to 1,000 animals a year. animals being rounded good job [on the butchnot hurting for money,” mon as you might Last year, a heifer up live, placed in a ering]. said Bishop, noting the believe.” was butchered in a simtrailer and driven away. “It was so good I thieves were equipped The association does ilar manner north of The RCMP traditiondon’t think they could with a rifle, ATV and a an annual loss survey, Heffley, while a number ally had a designated have done it at night.” pickup truck. returned by about a of cows on Coldstream investigator for cattle Bishop believes the Kevin Boon, quarter of its members. Ranch in the North theft and other farm animal was killed on
issues, but it was not filled when the staff member retired about two years ago. That position was posted in Kamloops. “We’ve been pushing hard [for a replacement] just for this reason,” Boon said. “We have assurances it will be filled again, hopefully very soon.” Another cow was found dead on the range shared by the four ranches on the first day of hunting season in September, a death Bishop believes was a hunter’s error. The ranch manager said the best chance of catching cattle rustlers and poachers is through tips from the public. The Kamloops RCMP is investigating and has collected evidence from the scene, including a box of garbage bags the poachers appear to have used to cart off parts of the cow. Anybody with information on the latest incident is asked to contact Kamloops Mounties at 250-8283000 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
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