AGASSIZ RCMP responded to 14 calls during the weekend of July 26-29 at the the Electric Love Music Festival at Cheam Fishing Village and in the vicinity due to festival goers’ actions.
On July 27, at 12:44 a.m., Agassiz and Chilliwack RCMP officers responded to several 911 calls of a vehicle being driven through the crowd at the music festival. Upon arrival, police found the crowd and security had the driver detained and turned him over to police.
“The initial investigation found a 31-year-old Chilliwack man and his 29-year-old female passenger had allegedly been asked to leave the festival grounds, they refused and drove toward a crowd of people. Security personnel and festival goers risked their safety and attempted to stop the vehicle from driving through the crowd. One witness jumped through a vehicle window in an attempt to grab the keys before falling out of the vehicle. The driver eventually lost control and collided with a pole where he was detained. The female passenger fled the scene on foot. The driver was found to be in breach of a recognizance of bail and held in custody on the breach charge,” said Sgt. Darren Rennie, Commander of the Agassiz RCMP.
“The Agassiz Community Policing Office (CPO) has the lead on this investigation and is investigating the driver for impaired driving and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle. The investigation remains ongoing pending the execution of judicial authorizations. Once all evidence has been obtained, if appropriate, a report to Crown Counsel will be submitted for consideration of criminal charges” said Rennie.
Other calls throughout the weekend included noise complaints; an intoxicated male who left the festival grounds, trespassed onto a neighbouring farm, released cattle from an enclosure, then jumped into a manure pit before being rescued by the land owners; a theft from motor vehicle which led to bank cards being used fraudulently; two separate checks for the well-being of children; one sexual assault complaint; a mental health crisis which is believed to be related to drug impairment; a refusal to leave; and found property.
