Bear sightings kept the Nelson Police Department busy during the weekend.
The department received several reports of bears in both the hospital and Fairview areas of the city. Members were able to locate a black bear in the Seventh and Gordon Street area and used non-lethal flash bangs to scare the bear — which is the preferred method if the bear is not aggressive.
In this event, the bear had several bags of garbage strewn around the area. The public is reminded to keep their garbage secure as easy access to garbage will cause more bear encounters and the bears will not leave if they can continue to access food sources in the city.
On Saturday at about 5 p.m., the Nelson Police Department received multiple 911 calls for a fight in the area of Ward and Baker Streets. The fight was between two intoxicated males and resulted in an arrest. One of the combatants was held due to his being intoxicated and was released when he was sober. The fight was consensual and no charges are pending.
On Sunday, at 6:30 a.m., the Nelson Police Department received several calls regarding a male who was passed out on the shoulder of Highway 3A just before the Lakeview Crescent exit. Initial reports were that the male had fallen from a five-metre wall adjacent to the highway however upon assessment by paramedics it appears as if the male was intoxicated and had passed out and not fallen as was initially reported.
On Monday, at 7:30 p.m. the Nelson Police Department received a report of a female passed out in the park in the 500 block of Hendryx. A 50 year old female was the subject of the complaint, was intoxicated and had court imposed conditions not to consume alcohol. Charges for breach of probation are pending.