Police and ambulance crews have to sometimes contend with intoxicated antics that appear serious on the surface, then their true nature becomes known. Such was the case on Monday morning before 9 a.m. when a resident of the 2200 block of Norwood Street convinced first himself and then a neighbour that he had been stabbed.
When first responders from the RCMP and BC Ambulance Service arrived, it became clear that this was not the case.
"Intoxication was a major factor," said RCMP Cpl. Craig Douglass. "Yes, he needed medical attention, but it wasn't for a stab wound. He eventually refused to go to the hospital."
Due to the roundabout dialogue that went on between the intoxicated man and the neighbour, charges of public mischief will not be laid against him. However, said Douglass, making deliberately misleading calls for police assistance is a crime under Section 140 of the Criminal Code.
The concerned neighbour did everything correctly, Douglass said.
"We frequently receive calls telling us a situation is one way and when we get there we find it is another way, often for the better," said Douglass. "The neighbour in this case was acting on the best information of the moment, and we are very happy about that. It is far better than people who see something suspicious and don't act on it, because a lot of times there really is something wrong and help is needed."
Although not surprising to anyone involved, said Douglass, this kind of scenario is not common, in which someone is believed to be seriously injured due to foul play and it turns out to be false.
