Salmo RCMP responded to more than 40 calls of service relating to the Shambhala Music Festival between August 5 and 13. The calls ranged from assaults, possession of a substance for the purpose of trafficking, other drug possession files, trespassing, theft, mental health issues, causing a disturbance, liquor files and vandalism.
During the festival, police made more than 200 drug seizures consisting marijuana, hash, cocaine, MDMA, ketamine, methadone and more.
There were 14 people taken into custody and one had to be taken to hospital, as it appeared he was suffering some mental distress.
The West Kootenay Traffic Service Unit and West Kootenay Integrated Road Safety Unit assisted Salmo Detachment with the large increase of vehicles traveling to and from the festival. The members worked long hours and there were extra resources brought in from Trail, Castlegar, Nelson IBET and Nelson Police Department to assist with road safety.
There was one serious collision that occurred in the East Kootenay area involving a vehicle leaving the festival on Tuesday. During one roadcheck after Shambhala, a travel trailer was also removed from the road for noted safety deficiencies.
There were 18 drivers under the influence of drugs issued driving suspensions. Ten people were nabbed under the influence of alcohol where 24 hour, three day or 90 day immediate driving suspensions were issued.
The majority of the driving suspensions were issued to the drivers departing the festival.
There were also nine liquor seizures from vehicles and close to 300 traffic violation tickets and warnings issued for not wearing seat belts, speeding and other moving violations, using electronic devices while driving, driving without a licence, driving contrary to conditions or without insurance and having vehicle safety defects.