ESTEVAN — The Estevan Police Service (EPS) apprehended an impaired driver, responded to fraud complaints and is investigating a theft in recent days.
According to the March 17 police report, members conducted a traffic stop during which the driver showed signs of drug impairment. A roadside standardized field sobriety test was conducted and, based on what the EPS said was a poor performance, a 27-year-old driver was arrested for impaired driving.
The EPS said a drug recognition expert conducted further testing, which resulted in the man being charged with operation of a conveyance while impaired by drug. He was released to a sober person and will attend court in May to speak to the charge.
The EPS received two separate reports of fraud during the March 17 day shift. In one incident, the EPS said a victim reported multiple fraudulent uses of her credit card in another province. In the other, the victim received a call from an individual claiming to represent an organization that needed to add security measures to their existing account. Banking information was provided, and the victim noted a withdrawal from their account the next day. The EPS said both matters are under investigation.
The EPS was called to a downtown business for a report of a man causing a disturbance. The individual was located and cautioned about his actions before being sent on his way.
Members attended a residence for a well-being check on a man who had reportedly made comments about self-harm while talking with a service provider. Members located the man, who denied having any thoughts of self-harm. The EPS said officers provided him with contact information for community support services.
Officers were called to a business in the Hillside area for a woman who had approached staff and advised them that she needed the police. The woman left the business prior to police arrival but was located a short time later during a separate call for service in which she was reported to be causing a disturbance. During the second call for service, the EPS noted the woman was intoxicated. She was released to the care of family members and cautioned about her behaviour.
Police were requested to conduct a well-being check on a man whose friends had not heard from him for a while and who was not answering repeated phone calls. Members attended his residence and determined he was safe and well. The initial caller was updated about the person’s status and no further police involvement was required.
Police were dispatched to a residence in the east end. A caller was looking after a vacant residence and it appeared someone might be inside. Members found no signs of forced entry and nobody in the residence.
The EPS responded March 16 to a couple of reported hit-and-run collisions. One occurred between March 12 and 16. The other was reported to have occurred in a parking lot in the northeast area. The EPS said the matters remain under investigation.
Members investigated a boarded-up building that appeared to have been entered in the Hillside area. The building was found to be insecure but nobody was located during the search. Arrangements were made to resecure the boards to prevent future entry.
Police received a complaint of a fraud in which the victim provided gift card numbers to a telephone scammer. It is under investigation.
A clothing item was reported stolen from a store in the Estevan Market Mall. A photo of the suspect was obtained from the business’s security system and the matter remains under investigation.
Police responded to an intrusion alarm at a business in the northeast area. The building was found to be secure, and no evidence of forced entry was present.
Multiple patrols were completed in the industrial areas. The EPS continues to request that business owners reduce the likelihood of crimes of opportunity by securely closing gates and locking all doors on properties when employees are not present.
