Mounties report 26 arrests, 105 calls for service at Country Thunder

Numbers released by the RCMP on Monday suggest things were a little tamer at Country Thunder in 2023 than they were a year earlier.

In a media release, the Mounties said officers responded to 105 calls for service at the country music festival between Wednesday and Monday, with 26 arrests. In 2022, the RCMP got 126 calls for service and arrested 32 people.

According to the RCMP, the most calls this past week — with 27 — were for disturbing the peace or causing a disturbance.

The list of calls included:

• 27 calls for disturbing the peace/causing a disturbance;
• 24 calls for Liquor Act offences;
• 14 roadside suspensions for alcohol impairment (including three- and 60-day suspensions);
• Seven calls to assist the general public (such as assisting until paramedics arrived on scene);
• Four impaired driving charges;
• Three reports of items lost/found (such as driver’s licences or a wallet);
• Three mischiefs or damage to or obstruct enjoyment of property;
• Two reports about assaults;
• Two calls to report impaired drivers;
• Two calls to assist a non-RCMP agency (such as executing warrants);
• Two motor vehicle insurance coverage violations (including driving without registration)
• One call about an assault with a weapon or causing bodily harm;
• One roadside suspension for drug impairment (60-day suspension);
• One call about the Mental Health Act (assisting the Regina Police Service with locating an individual);
• One report of obstructing justice;
• One call about a family dispute;
• One call about a theft under $5,000 (a generator);
• One charge of possession of cocaine;
• One Cannabis Act offence (for consuming cannabis in a public place);
• One report of a suspicious person/vehicle;
• One report of a credit card being stolen; and
• One call to complete a wellbeing check.

The roadside suspensions for alcohol or drug impairment were part of a blitz Saturday and Sunday conducted by the Saskatchewan RCMP and SGI.

“I am proud of the collaboration amongst all officers and representatives present during the event,” Staff Sgt. Tim Sartison from the RCMP’s South District Management Team said in the release.

“Our officers ensured they were accessible to respond to calls for services and maintained traffic safety. We assisted and worked closely with our partners, some of which include, Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency, Saskatchewan Highway Patrol, Saskatchewan Government Insurance, Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority, event organizers, and on-site festival security to ensure a safe weekend.”