Elk Valley RCMP responded to a report of an assault in Sparwood on May 19, 2024.
Officers arrived to find a Sparwood resident who had been bear sprayed by another resident. Police say an altercation lead to an assault by two men on one other person in the 9500 block of Highway 43 in Sparwood.
An RCMP press release says that the fight was over child custody.
One suspect was arrested and released on conditions. The other suspect is known to police but had not yet been arrested.
Police have secured a home security system video which showed the entire incident.
On May 20, 2024, the Elk Valley RCMP investigated a reported break and enter in process in the 600 block of 9th Ave in Fernie. Witnesses reported a man, wearing no shores or shirt, attempting to break into a residence through mudroom door. He did gain access and entered.
Arriving on the scene, officers were confronted by the main outside, with his fists raised in a motion to fight the officers, an RCMP press release says.
“The man was placed under arrest but, during the handcuffing procedure, swung at the officer, making contact with the forehead of the arresting officer,” says the report from S/Sgt. Svend Nielsen of the Elk Valley Regional RCMP. “The arresting officer attempted to deploy a CEW (Conducted Energy Weapon) but was unsuccessful. Another officer arrived on scene and observed the suspect fighting with the arresting officer and deployed a CEW successfully, but the suspect continued to struggle, yelling out at times “I like pain!”. A second cycle of the CEW led to the suspect being successfully handcuffed by police, who then struggled with the suspect to place him in the patrol vehicle.”
Officers requested the man be checked out by ambulance attendants but he refused care, RCMP say. He was transferred to Sparwood cells.
Sgt. Nielsen says other calls regarding the man at different locations in Fernie had been received throughout the afternoon.
The 40-year old Fernie resident is being held pending a bail hearing.