A Vancouver Island fisherman was arrested on suspicions of impaired boating.
On Nov. 29, at approximately 9:50 a.m., Port Hardy RCMP were told by the marine authority that a 10-metre long fishing vessel was being operated in B次元官网网址渁n erratic mannerB次元官网网址� in the port, and that the vesselB次元官网网址檚 driver could be impaired.
According to Staff Sgt. Wes Olsen, Port Hardy RCMP went to the marina and were informed that the vessel in question had since departed the bay area and was approximately four miles north of Port Hardy still being operated erratically. Olsen noted that police saw the boat B次元官网网址渃ircling in the same spot out in the open water north of Port Hardy.B次元官网网址�
Two Port Hardy Mounties and the Coast Guard headed out to the circling boat saw a man at the helm of the boat who seemed to be B次元官网网址渟lumped over and non-responsive.B次元官网网址�
When the Coast Guard couldnB次元官网网址檛 gain the boaterB次元官网网址檚 attention, police decided to board the rapidly moving vessel that was B次元官网网址渃ontinually turning to the right in a [small] circleB次元官网网址�
Once police got on board, they examined the driver for injuries and found that he was B次元官网网址済rossly impaired and an open container of liquor was located nearby.B次元官网网址�
Another man was found sleeping in the hold of the boat who police said was also intoxicated.
The fishing vessel and the two males aboard returned to the Port Hardy marina with the assistance of the coast guard, said Olsen.
B次元官网网址淭he fishing vessel operator was arrested for impaired operation of a vessel,B次元官网网址� said Olsen.
B次元官网网址淒ue to his extreme level of intoxication he was transported to the Port Hardy hospital for further examination.B次元官网网址�
Police took a blood sample from the allegedly impaired driver to test for impairment.
Olsen thanked the local coast guard members for such a quick response to the incident, B次元官网网址渁nd the quick thinking of officers on scene who brought this matter to a quick and successful conclusion. Things could have turned out much differently had the weather been poor and the Coast Guard not been present with a vessel in the water for a quick response.B次元官网网址�
The incident remains under investigation.
- with files from Port Hardy RCMP
