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NV RCMP officer speeds through radar as ‘prank’ High speed chase ends in court and $693 in fines
JANE SEYD jseyd@nsnews.com
A North Vancouver RCMP officer lauded in the past for keeping roads safe was handed almost $700 in fines Tuesday after admitting he blew through a speed trap at more than 60 kilometres an hour above the speed limit and led fellow officers on a high-speed chase as part of an offduty prank. Const. Michael Milo
Arbulic, 38, of the North Vancouver RCMP detachment, was handed the fines for excessive speed under the Motor Vehicle Act for racing at high speed along Highway 1 while off duty at 1 a.m. on Feb. 14 this year. Crown counsel Nick Barber said Arbulic led North Vancouver RCMP officers on a five-kilometre pursuit, and that police in neighbouring West Vancouver were called to assist before Arbulic eventually stopped his vehicle in West Vancouver and revealed his identity. Barber said Arbulic admitted he floored it through the speed trap “in order to prank the other officers who were running the radar.”
Arbulic was not handed a speeding ticket after the incident, nor was his vehicle impounded. But at least one fellow police officer was not amused by the joke and reported the incident, prompting an investigation and review by the RCMP’s professional standards unit. Results of that review have not been made public. Arbulic did not appear in court Tuesday, but his lawyer David Butcher said the officer — who has been a member of the RCMP since 2005 — has “already apologized to everybody involved.” Judge Steven Merrick of the North Vancouver provincial court handed See No page 3
West Van’s Blue Bus union leaders anticipate strike vote BRENT RICHTER brichter@nsnews.com
Transit riders who rely on the District of West Vancouver’s municipal Blue Bus to get around may be left standing in the coming weeks as contract negotiations between the union that operates and maintains the buses and the district are in trouble.
The district presented its final offer to the Amalgamated Transit Union local 134 last week after months of negotiation and mediation from the Labour Relations Board, however the union’s leadership is not keen on the offer. “We’ve been negotiating for over a year now, and it’s something that’s very
frustrating,” said Geoff Devlin, 134 president. The district issued a press release on Sept. 13, calling on the ATU to accept an offer that is “in line with a deal reached between Coast Mountain Bus Company and its union earlier this year.” That deal involved pay See Offer page 3
SACRED FIRE Samantha Maracle and her seven-month-old son Gregory Maracle-Bee observe a sacred fire ceremony at Ambleside beach Monday morning. The event, hosted by members of the Squamish Nation, was part of Truth and Reconciliation week, a time to remember and share residential school experiences. More about the event and an interview with a residential school survivor will be featured in this Sunday’s issue of the North Shore News. Scan with Layar to see more photos. PHOTO CINDY GOODMAN
The world’s top annual exhibition of nature and wildlife art returns to the Peak of Vancouver.
Sept. 27-Oct. 6, 2013
For more info, visit grousemountain.com