By Don Urquhart, Times Chronicle
Two rumors that ended up both being false were spread by local social media users around an alleged stabbing and tainted Halloween candy according to the Osoyoos RCMP.
On Halloween night the RCMP responded to a call just before 7 p.m. regarding an elderly person who had taken a small amount of cash out of the CIBC ATM machine and as the person was withdrawing the cash an individual approached him to take his cash.
“There was a short struggle that ensued and that person may or may not have had a knife,” said Sgt. Jason Bayda, Area Commander, Osoyoos RCMP Detachment.
The individual then fled the scene and the victim was assessed by BC Emergency Health Services and with no visible injuries was taken to the hospital for an assessment as a precaution.
“There was no stabbing,” Bayda said conclusively. “That’s the one problem here with social media and people deciding to spread rumors that are simply just not true.”
The RCMP investigation is ongoing and video footage is being gathered from various businesses on Main St. with Bayda noting that no suspects have been identified at this point.
On a safety note Bayda reminded ATM users to always be aware of one’s surroundings, to make withdrawals in the day time when there are more people around and also to safeguard access (PIN) codes.
In another incident also on Halloween night, reports of tainted candy being given out by costumed, roaming adults in the Dividend Ridge subdivision also turned out to be false but were perpetuated on local social media channels.
The reports of tainted candy are “100 per cent false,” Bayda said, explaining that a group of adults had gone out in the subdivision dressed up and were handing out candy to kids rather than having them come to the door.
“We inspected the candy, there was nothing that was tampered with, whatsoever,” Bayda stated, adding that police attempted to allay the concerns of the people who had received some of the candy and called the police. “It was a 100 per cent unfounded incident, there was no criminality, and no one was arrested,” he emphasized.
“Again, it was simply some people doing their part, giving to the kids on Halloween.”
“Unfortunately, as I’ve noticed over time, in a small town, rumors start to spread, and people say stuff that is absolutely 100 per cent false. It puts fear into other people and it’s just unfortunate that people speak before we’re able to complete our investigation and get the details out.”
Bayda added that, “had there been any concern right from the onset we would have got a message out very quickly.”
