Though Nelson might have a reputation for being the pot capital of BC, the Nelson Police Department sent a message Saturday afternoon that open drug use is not going to be tolerated.
Police received a call about two people opening smoking pot in the amenity area of the 400 block of Baker Street. When officers arrived they detained the man and woman.
Upon searching both of the pot smokers, police found drugs on the 24-year-old man who was known to them. The man also had some allegedly stolen property which still had store tags. The man was arrested for possessing drugs for the purpose of trafficking and possession of stolen property.
The woman, who had just arrived in Nelson and is known to police province-wide, was released but arrested a short time later for causing a disturbance in a separate incident. She will appear in Nelson court on October 23 to answer to the charges.
Both are to remain out of the downtown core until their court appearances.
• On Friday morning police received a call about a partially naked man running around Lakeside Rotary Park and believed to be on drugs. Once officers arrived, a 45-year-old local man known to them was located.
Police say the man had been using street drugs during the night and was still “coming down from those drugs.” With help of police he went home, but later in the day caused a disturbance at two more locations after apparently consuming more drugs.
The man was jailed until the drugs were out of his system and he could better control himself.
• On Saturday evening a local woman ran into the Nelson Police Department to report she was just assaulted in the 500 block Ward Street. Officers searched the area, but the 33-year-old female suspect, who is known to them, had fled. A warrant for her arrest has been requested.
The victim was transported to Kootenay Lake Hospital to be treated for her injuries.
• With summer heating up, police are reminding people to not get behind the wheel after a couple of cold ones.
Between Thursday and Saturday, police served three immediate roadside prohibitions on drunk drivers in Nelson. The penalty is an automatic 90-day license suspension and a 30-day vehicle impoundment.