Watson Lake cops are going to have a hard time scrounging up fried chicken and potato wedges—they’ve been banned from the Tags convenience store.
“That’s his right, if he doesn’t want to provide service, I don’t have a problem with that ... there’s other stores in town,” said Sgt. Paul Thalhofer, commander of the Watson Lake RCMP detachment.
“It’s just small-town politics,” he said. “It’s not a big deal.”
Facing criminal charges, the owner of the convenience store decided RCMP officers are no longer welcome.
RCMP investigated the store’s owner after receiving a complaint he was uttering threats. They are expected to lay charges.
“As a result of that, the business owner chooses not to have the RCMP at his business,” said Thalhofer.
Tags employees wouldn’t comment on the ban.
“You’re talking to the wrong guy, I don’t know anything about it,” said a store employee before hanging up.
The manager is in Whitehorse, “going to the dentist and stuff,” said another store employee.
“That’s all you need to know,” he said, before hanging up as well.
If Tags ever finds itself in a situation requiring police intervention, the ban will probably be rescinded, said Thalhofer.
The police don’t hold a grudge.
“Either way, we’ll provide the policing service that’s expected of us,” he said.
Contact Tristin Hopper at
tristinh@yukon-news.com