It has not been a jolly Christmas season for some members of the Prince George RCMP.
According to Corporal Craig Douglas, police attended to over 1000 calls for service over a 10-day period over the holidays.
Douglas said “although most of the calls turned out not to be serious, there has been a recent trend of violence towards our officers.”
Fortunately, none of the officers were seriously injured.
Below are four examples why officers use caution when dealing with most people.
#
At approximately 6:30 AM on Friday December 20th, frontline officers with the Prince George RCMP responded to a report of an abandoned 9-1-1 call at an apartment on Juniper Street in Prince George.  Three persons were found in the residence smoking methamphetamine.  Two of the occupants began to argue which prompted the 9-1-1 call.  The occupants were separated.  The three officers that responded to the call became ill as a result of exposure to the fumes in the residence.  All three were taken to hospital as a precaution and later discharged.
#
On Wednesday December 25th at approximately 3:00 PM, frontline officers responded to a report of mental health and drug related incident in Prince George.  As a result of the investigation, a teenage female was apprehended under the Mental Health Act and transported to the hospital for assessment by a doctor.  While at the hospital, the female became aggressive towards police and ended up biting an officer to the point of drawing blood.  An assault police officer investigation is underway.
#
Just after 11:00 PM on Saturday December 28th, a frontline officer conducting CounterAttack patrols for impaired drivers, executed a traffic stop with a vehicle on Massey Drive.  The female driver and two other occupants all appeared to be intoxicated.  The driver refused to provide her driver’s licence or name to the officer.  She opened the door and attempted to get past the officer, assaulting him in the process.  While she was being arrested, a female passenger, later found to be the driver’s 20 year old daughter, exited the vehicle and attempted to kick the officer in the groin.  She was subsequently arrested too.  The 41 year old driver was later found not to have a valid driver’s licence.  She was transported to the Detachment where she provided breath samples of well over the legal limit.  The investigation is continuing.
#
In the early morning of Sunday December 29th, frontline officers responded to a report of a suspect on a bike breaking into vehicles on Sanderson Road in Prince George.  Officers located an adult male matching the description in a driveway.  While in conversation with the officer, the male swung a bag towards the officer, striking him in the head.  The male immediately fled on foot.  A search of the area was conducted, however the suspect was not located.  The officer was not seriously hurt.  The investigation is continuing.