RCMP reported the finding of a dead body and an abandoned truck last Saturday night, Jan. 30 west of Big Valley, but said no foul play was suspected.
According to the statement by the RCMP Stettler Detachment, the body was found by snowmobilers riding along the Red Deer River at about 7:40 p.m.
“Stettler Detachment investigated with the assistance of personnel from the Major Crime Unit and Forensic Identification Unit,” said the RCMP statement, adding that the deceased male could not be identified.
“At this preliminary stage foul play has been ruled out. The investigation into the cause of death and identity of the deceased continues under the direction of the Provincial Medical Examiner’s Office of Calgary,” the statement said.
Sgt. Rowland Schmidt, RCMP Stettler Detachment commander, said they believed the body had been at the location for quite some time.
Other than the finding of the body, the detachment had a relatively quiet week.
The incidents that took place were reported as follows by Sgt. Schmidt:
On Jan. 28, at 6 p.m. fuel was stolen from a local gas station. A patron filled his dark coloured pickup truck with over $50 of fuel and drove off without paying.
On Jan. 31 an 18-year- old Elnora area resident was arrested for impaired driving while in Stettler. He was released from custody to appear in Stettler Provincial Court on Feb. 11 to enter a plea to that charge.
During January police focused on intersection safety. Only two intersection collisions occurred this January compared to seven in 2009. Total January collisions also fell from 70 to 55 this year. In January, none of the three collisions resulting in occupants being injured were at intersections.
Distracted driving is the traffic focus for February. Police will be enforcing the laws with respect to distracting behaviours that contribute to collisions. Things that could result in a charge include using a cell phone, your pet sitting on your lap, reaching into the back seat, reading correspondence or applying makeup.
The resulting charges could include driving carelessly - $402.
When drivers don’t pay close attention, it often leads to various traffic violations which might include driving to the left of the centre line - $172 following too closely - $172, or failing to yield to a pedestrian - $575.