On March 14, 2012 at approximately 0900 hours two members of the Castlegar RCMP went to Tim Hortons for a coffee. While walking through the parking lot, the officers could smell marihuana. There was no one in the area smoking anything, the smell was coming from one of the vehicles in the parking lot.
The officers quickly zeroed in on the suspect vehicle and subsequently arrested one female in the vehicle and another female when she came back to the vehicle. A search of the vehicle led to the seizure of approximately 45 grams of marihuana including 20 rolled marihuana joints. The marihuana was not openly being smoked, it was in packages amongst personal items.
One female was released on scene without charge, the other female was released shortly after on a Promise to Appear with a court date set in Castlegar for May 23, 2012. The RCMP are recommending charges of possession of a controlled substance.
The officers were surprised at the potency of the smell when they found the marihuana packaged in sealed containers inside a car with the windows up and the doors closed.
Sgt. Laurel MATHEW
Castlegar RCMP