The Saskatchewan RCMP is reporting that they got fewer calls this year for the Country Thunder music festival over the weekend, though it wasn't exactly quiet.
They report that police officers responded to 105 calls for service related to the musical festival between Wednesday, July 12, and the morning of Monday, July 17, which resulted in 26 people in custody.
To compare, last year Saskatchewan RCMP received 126 calls for services, which resulted in 32 in custody.
There was still plenty of work for police officers who were in and around the festival, with the full list of charges as follows:
- 27 calls for disturbing the peace/causing a disturbance
- 24 liquor act offences (ex. AGRA tickets issued, public intoxication)
- 14 roadside suspensions for alcohol impairment – 3-day and 60-day suspensions
- 7 calls to assist the general public (ex. assisting until EMS arrives on scene)
- 4 operating motor vehicle while impaired, over .08mg% limit
- 3 reports of items lost/found (ex. driver’s licences, wallet)
- 3 mischiefs, damage to or obstruct enjoyment of property
- 2 reports of an assault
- 2 calls to report impaired drivers
- 2 calls to assist a non-RCMP agency (ex. executing warrants)
- 2 motor vehicle insurance coverage violations (ex. driving without registration)
- 1 report of an assault with a weapon or causing bodily harm
- 1 roadside suspension for drug impairment – 60-day suspension
- 1 mental health act (ex. assisting Regina Police Service with locating an individual)
- 1 obstructing justice
- 1 report of a family dispute
- 1 report of a theft under $5,000 (ex. a generator)
- 1 person in possession of cocaine
- 1 cannabis act offense (ex. consuming cannabis in a public place)
- 1 report of a suspicious person/vehicle
- 1 report of a credit card being stolen
- 1 call to complete a well-being check
From the calls of service, 15 individuals received suspended driver’s licences due to alcohol or drug impairment, four of which are also facing criminal charges.
That was helped by a proactive traffic initiative in partnership with SGI on Saturday and Sunday, as the two worked to ensure impaired drivers were taken off Saskatchewan roadways.
“I am proud of the collaboration amongst all officers and representatives present during the event,” says S/Sgt. Tim Sartison from the South District Management Team. “Our officers ensured they were accessible to respond to calls for services and maintained traffic safety."