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Yukon RCMP respond to 197 calls over busy Christmas weekend

It was another busy Christmas weekend for Yukon's RCMP officers as they responded to 197 calls from Dec. 24 to 27.

It was another busy Christmas weekend for Yukon’s RCMP officers as they responded to 197 calls from Dec. 24 to 27.

The various calls included 25 assaults, 10 theft-related occurrences, nine traffic collisions, two check stops and two impaired driving charges, according to RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Natasha Dunmall.

On Christmas Day, Whitehorse RCMP responded to a complaint of a street light lying across the Alaska Highway near the Crestview subdivision.

An unknown vehicle had gone off the road and struck the light. But tracks showed the driver was able to get back onto the highway and drive away. ATCO Electric was called to fix the light.

On Dec. 26 a Dawson City resident returned home to find the front door kicked in and two people inside the house.

Police were able to locate and arrest one of the suspects, a 23-year-old male. They’ve identified the other suspect and are making efforts to arrest him.

Also on Dec. 26, Whitehorse RCMP responded to a 911 call about a man who had pulled a knife on several youth at a skating shack near a community rink in the McIntyre subdivision.

Police responded and arrested a 29-year-old male, who has been charged with assault with a weapon, as well as possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose.

There were no injuries and the man was set to appear in Yukon Territorial Court on Tuesday.

On Dec. 27, Whitehorse RCMP responded to a 911 call about a 38-year-old male assaulting people at a residence along the North Klondike Highway.

According to police, the man used physical force, as well as a canoe paddle, to confine the homeowners to the residence.

The caller was able to escape and call the police. A man was arrested and taken into custody, where he was charged with eight offences under the criminal code including assault, assault causing bodily harm, assault with a weapon, unlawful confinement and mischief.

Dunmall said the high volume of calls “seems to fall within the expected Christmas volume.”

“The cold temperatures over Christmas definitely kept foot traffic down and deters crime of opportunity such as theft from vehicles, and theft of vehicles,” she said.

A search of last year’s police files revealed 221 calls were made during the same period, Dunmall said.

But the number can be misleading since more files can be generated after the fact, she added.

Police have not released any of the names of the people charged over the weekend.

Contact Myles Dolphin at

myles@yukon-news.com