St. Paul RCMP assisted a man lying on the side of Highway 29 across from West End Bingo on Sept. 16.
RCMP has dealt with a few cases of passed out persons on the highway but not as commonly as other intoxicated person complaints, said detachment spokesman Cst. Sam Montasser.
“We continue to deal with the panhandling and public intoxication issues in town,” confirmed Montasser, in an email.
RCMP arrested and lodged 92 persons for being drunk in a public place in August. Montasser estimated around 200 had been arrested and lodged in July and August with many of persons arrested repeatedly.
One person accounts for 10 of the 200. In some cases, persons arrested for public intoxication are released in the morning after sobering up over night in custody, only to be arrested later in the day for the same thing, he said.
“It presents a significant drain on RCMP resources as it distracts members from dealing with more pressing matters,” such as investigations and other community initiatives, Montasser said.
RCMP is limited by provincial and federal legislation in addressing it, Montasser said. Most of the enforcement results in temporary incarceration. Other enforcement measures such as tickets under provincial liquor legislation typically go to a warrant being issued for fine collection or having time served in default, he said.
Since the detachment frequently encounters the same people when dealing with the public intoxication problem in St. Paul, while being incarcerated they will simultaneously serve that time in default and ultimately waive any outstanding fine from a previously issued ticket, he said.
Town council has instructed peace officer Ryan Berezanski to work on drafting a panhandling bylaw and to liaise with RCMP. Berezanski planned to bring information regarding panhandling and how other communities deal with it to the Town council meeting on Monday.
RCMP Staff Sgt. Bob Batchelor has instructed officers to focus on panhandling, drinking and public drunkenness, Coun. Don Padlesky told Town of St. Paul council at its meeting on Sept. 12.
