A bit of a wild start to official summer for the Nelson Police Department.
On Wednesday afternoon police say a 57-year-old man, under the influence of drugs and alcohol, began a shoplifting spree in the 500 block Baker Street.
After being removed from a business, he pulled out a knife and began stabbing and slashing at a planter in front of a crowd on the street. Several people called for police and watched him move down the street until NPD officers took him into custody.
He was put before a judge and will be serving jail time for theft, possession of a weapon dangerous to the public and mischief to property.
On Tuesday the local department assisted the conservation officer with desroying a bear in the Nelson campground. The bear had been seen in Nelson over the last few days and police said appeared to have lost his natural aversion to people.
People are reminded to secure their garbage and not leave it out overnight.
On Monday evening, officers stopped a cyclist riding without lights or a helmet in a downtown alley.
The 22-year-old male was intoxicated and police say gave a false story about what he was up to.
Upon examining the bike the officer found out that, in fact, the bike was his own. The male had just stolen it from the officer’s home.
The male will appear in court in Nelson August 14 for charges of theft and possession of stolen property.
Later Monday evening officers stopped a vehicle for a routine traffic violation. The officer noted a smell of marijuana in the vehicle and the two occupants were detained.
A quantity of hashish was located and seized in the vehicle. The passenger was found to be in breach of a conditional sentence order and arrest.
In a strange twist, it was discovered that the driver of the vehicle was the father of the person who was just arrested for stealing the same police officers’ bike. He was released pending investigation into the seized drugs.