(CMG Online – Canadian Motorcycle Guide) – RCMP in British Columbia have admitted that an officer took a helmet from a motorcyclist who was later that night killed in a crash, despite earlier claims that the officer did not “confiscate” the helmet.
An RCMP press release issued June 25 says a police officer “removed and held two helmets” on the night of June 12-13 from “unattended motorcycles” that he found parked in Oliver. The press release says the officer thought he knew the owners of the motorcycles and had earlier that evening seen these same two bikes “being driven erratically.”
“The officer waited by the motorcycles for the owners to return and departed after leaving a note on the motorcycle advising the registered owner to call the officer in order to retrieve the helmets.”
At 2:30 a.m. that night, the same officer went to the scene of a crash and found 41-year-old Robert Charles Mitchell in serious condition after slamming into the rear end of a pickup truck that was driven by a man who was not hurt. Mitchell, who had not been wearing a helmet, later died in Kelowna General Hospital.
RCMP had said on June 17 that the officer had not taken the helmets, and the later press release was intended to “correct inaccurate information which was previously relayed to a local Oliver media agency days after the collision.”
“The officer’s primary intention of removing and holding the helmets,” says the press release, “were in order to prevent the possible theft of the helmets, in addition to preventing the continuation of any offences involving the motorcycles.”
RCMP are investigating the matter.
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RCMP Press Release
Update- Investigation into Oliver man’s fatal motorcycle collision on June 13, continues
File # 2009-2647 2009-06-25 16:02 PDT
The RCMP is continuing it’s investigation into the fatal motorcycle collision which occurred on June 13, 2009, involving 41 year old Robert Charles Mitchell of Oliver. At this time, the RCMP Southeast District General Investigation Section has taken lead responsibility for the investigation. In addition to updating the status of the investigation, the RCMP has also taken quick steps to correct inaccurate information which was previously relayed to a local Oliver media agency days after the collision.
Backgrounder:
On June 13, 2009 at approximately 02:30 am, the Oliver RCMP attended to a motor vehicle collision involving a motorcyclist and pick up truck which had occurred on Highway 97 and 360th Ave in downtown Oliver. The motorcyclist, 41 year old Robert Charles Mitchell was transported to the South Okanagan General Hospital then transferred to Kelowna General Hospital by Emergency Health Services after rear ending a pick truck being driven by a 37 year old Oliver man. Mitchell passed away while receiving emergency care for his injuries at KGH. The driver of the truck was unhurt in the collision. Mitchell was not wearing a helmet at the time of the collision.
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“It was reported earlier, by the Oliver RCMP, that police had not “confiscated” a helmet from Mitchell’s motorcycle. This oral comment and error was made with only a partial review of the file being completed, prior to the detachment representative being interviewed by the media in Oliver”, stated Cpl Dan Moskaluk, RCMP Southeast District Media Relations Officer.
“Upon reviewing the dissemination of information to the media to date on this matter, on June 23, I became aware that the error in comments regarding our member removing and holding the helmet, had occurred, and took steps to correct this issue. The comment was confirmed as being made and reported on as such. This is being publicly corrected today with the following statement”:
“Although police did not have any direct contact with Mr Mitchell on June 13 prior to the collision, an on duty Oliver RCMP officer had earlier removed and held two helmets from the unattended motorcycles while they were parked in Oliver, some time prior to the collision. The Oliver RCMP member had also observed earlier, what was believed to be the same motorcycles as seen parked, being driven erratically and thus had an investigative interest in the two motorcycles.
When found parked, the officer recognized the machines as being owned by persons that he knew. The officer waited by the motorcycles for the owners to return and departed after leaving a note on the motorcycle advising the registered owner to call the officer in order to retrieve the helmets. The officer did not receive any phone inquiries regarding the helmets”.
The officer’s primary intention of removing and holding the helmets were in order to prevent the possible theft of the helmets, in addition to preventing the continuation of any offences involving the motorcycles. It was the same officer who later attended to the collision less then a block away from where the motorcycles had been parked. The officer was accompanied at the time by a volunteer Auxiliary Constable who is employed by the BCAS and first aid was administered to Mr Mitchell.
The initial collision investigation is being conducted by the RCMP South Okanagan Traffic Services and the South East District Collision re-construction Analyst, who attended the scene for forensic evidence gathering and examination. The addition of the Southeast District General Investigation Section is in the purview of thoroughly investigating the entire evenings’ events that took place on June 12 and 13th inclusively leading up to and including the collision. The RCMP is continuing it’s investigation into this fatal collision along with that of the BC Coroners Service.
“Aside from the clarifications of previously released information by the Oliver RCMP on or about June 17, it would be premature at this time to further comment on any detailed findings in regards to this matter. The RCMP conveys it’s condolences to the Mitchell family for their loss”, stated Cpl Dan Moskaluk.
Released by
Cpl. Dan Moskaluk
Media Relations Officer
South East District and North District
170 -395 Penno Road, Kelowna BC V1X-7W5
Office: (250) 491-2300
Cell: (250) 863-7433
Fax: (250) 491-2381
dan.moskaluk@rcmp-grc.gc.ca
Follow us on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/bcrcmp
Deepthroat, most of the United States drives motorcycles without helmets! Is there anything else you would like to add to your statement? lol
Hot debate. What do you think?
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Only an idiot would ride without a helmet.. I am sure we must have failed him as a society if he felt he could break the law safely and ride without a helmet.. And obviously the education system failed him as well if he could not read the note left for him, or decipher the contents.
Hot debate. What do you think?
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Hmmm,
Under Canadian Law, doesn’t this fall under Grevious Bodily Harm?? …leaving someone in a situation you know could lead to serious injury or death…?
I mean, why didn’t this RCMPig just cyphon the gas from his tank, or perhaps loosen the retaining bolts on his wheels, for that matter, why not just take the wheels or the seat, wouldn’t that prevent someone from stealing the bike, too? Is it me, or have the po-po become the *BEST* actors in the world?? Their *LIVE-ACTION*, theatre-style, for-the-camera antics are a one take deal… The only thing two things *MORE* entertaining than their live (read – dashcam) antics, is the unbelievable BS that their media liasons spew for the MSM and their backtracking…(case in point). The *ONLY* thing that this Officer (and I use this term loosly) was attempting to do was either deliberately piss off the ROs or prevent them from operating their vehicles. But *STEALING* the helmets was neither an intelligent decision, nor a legal one, despite their backtracking.
The next step will be for them to claim that this motorcyclist’s injuries “…were not consistent with head or neck trauma…” and that “…the lack of a helmet did not contribute to his death…”. QUESTION – How many iterations of these queue cards do they carry?
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