Mila (5) and Max (4) Keller were eating breakfast at Smitty’s Family Restaurant in early December at the start of Osoyoos Christmas Lite-Up when Santa Claus stopped by at their table. Many local residents turned out for Smitty’s Toys for Tots to Teens annual event. (Richard McGuire photo)
After more than three years and many procedural delays, former Osoyoos RCMP Constable Amit Goyal was cleared of all allegations he was facing only five days before Christmas.
Goyal is expected to return to active duty shortly, although it is unclear where he will be posted.
The announcement that all allegations were being withdrawn was made during a videoconference hearing that lasted less than three minutes.
The RCMP had never publicly detailed the allegations against Goyal. Nor have they provided details of new information that led them to withdraw the allegations.
Goyal faced three counts under Section 39 of the 1988 RCMP regulations and two under section 45(b).
Section 39 says that a member shall not engage “in any disgraceful act or conduct that could bring discredit on the Force.”
Section 45(b) says a member shall not make a false, misleading or inaccurate statement to a superior officer pertaining to an investigation.
In announcing the withdrawal of the allegations, John Reid, the lawyer representing the RCMP, said new information was brought forward by Goyal’s lawyer, John Benkendorf, prior to a Sept. 13, 2016 hearing date.
The matter was adjourned to Nov. 14 and then to Tuesday to allow the RCMP to review this new information.
“This time was utilized by the appropriate officer to review new information that was received via Mr. Benkendorf, the member’s representative, from experts in the automotive industry,” Reid told the hearing. “Their opinions are persuasive enough to convince the appropriate officer that it is not in the public interest to proceed as there is no reasonable likelihood of substantiating the allegations. The appropriate officer is withdrawing the allegations as the member has been exonerated by this evidence.”
Goyal was removed from active duty with Osoyoos RCMP in June 2013 and has been suspended with pay since then.
The allegations are the result of two incidents in which Goyal reported vehicles stolen from his residence on Cottonwood Drive a week apart in the fall of 2012.
Both vehicles were subsequently found burned on Anarchist Mountain.
Initially a local man with a criminal record was fingered as a suspect, but after undergoing a lie detector test, he ceased to be a suspect.
The incidents were investigated by Trail RCMP, who recommended criminal charges be laid against Goyal, but the Crown prosecutor declined to lay any charges.
When Benkendorf, Goyal’s lawyer, brought forth the new information in September, he told the disciplinary hearing that “this hearing would be an embarrassment for the RCMP were it to proceed.”
Prior to Tuesday, Goyal’s disciplinary hearing was rescheduled six times.
In other news, the newly-named Baldy Mountain Resort reopened in early December with hundreds of skiers and snowboarders attending a massive opening weekend celebration.
Past owners had struggled to keep Baldy Mountain profitable in recent years, with the ski hill operating just half of one season over the past three winters, and it was in receivership as recently as late June.
When resorts are in that position, new managing director Joey ‘Snowy’ O’Brien said it’s common for stakeholders to give up, have a fire sale and salvage the equipment.
“We had 2,200 ski resorts in 1967 in North America. We have less than 700 now,” he said. “As resorts fail, sometimes the easy button is to pull the assets off the mountain. Sell them for whatever you can get.”
But everybody who has skin in the game would agree that Baldy Mountain was worth swimming against the tide for, he said.
During the months-long process of restoration, “We never felt alone,” O’Brien said. “It felt like the community was championing us, pushing us towards our goal of being open on Dec. 1. We have a fabulous investor group that gives me help where I need it and doesn’t interfere where I don’t,” he said. “Just the right mix.”
Baldy Mountain is home to an “incredible natural facility, it’s a perfect marketplace,” and the property yields the highest value as a ski resort, said O’Brien.
During a ribbon-cutting ceremony, O’Brien was joined by Osoyoos Indian Band Chief Clarence Louie, principal investor Victor Tsao and local MLA Linda Larson.
Tsao, the principal investor, wore to the ribbon cutting a ski jacket from 1968 to commemorate the year when Mount Baldy first opened as a ski resort.
Baldy Mountain has a bright future, Tsao said, and his group of investors are looking far into the long-term.
“We want to leave it as a legacy for future generations,” he said. “I brought my young kids here and I want them to be able to enjoy this mountain the same way as we do.”
In other news, Osoyoos Baptist Church once again made sure that Christmas brings special meals and that nobody goes without.
The annual community Christmas dinner was once again planned for Christmas day, and through the Osoyoos Food Bank, the church again distributed food hampers.
The dinner was intended for anyone in the community and not just the most needy.
The food hampers, on the other hand, were for those struggling to make ends meet – either regular food bank users or those registered with the Kiwanis “Share the Christmas Spirit” program.
Pastor Phil Johnson said the Christmas dinner in the past has ranged from 125 to 200 people attending.
Meanwhile, Hollywood superstar Nicolas Cage caused quit the stir locally when he showed up unexpectedly at the Osoyoos Buy-Low grocery store and had his picture taken with a longtime staff member.
Cage was in town shooting the science fiction thriller called The Humanity Bureau, which is being produced by Mind’s Eye Entertainment from Regina, a film production company that has already shot another full-length movie in the Okanagan Valley several months ago and plans on shooting four more in the coming months.
Kevin Dewalt, who is the Chief Executive Officer and President of Mind’s Eye Entertainment, has produced over 50 film and television projects since forming his company back in 1986.
Dewalt said he’s enjoyed his experience in shooting The Humanity Bureau so much that he has committed to shooting another four movies at least in the Okanagan Valley.
“We have committed to at least four more movies in 2017 and 2018,” he said. “They will all be shot in the Okanagan, but I can’t tell you right now if that means we will be back in Osoyoos or not, but I would think there’s a very good chance.”
Once filming wraps up in the next week or two, it will take about a year of post-production work to get The Humanity Bureau ready for worldwide release and he expects the movie to hit the silver screen some time in the fall of 2017, said Dewalt.
OSOYOOS TIMES STAFF
Osoyoos Times
Santa and Mrs. Claus wave to spectators at the Santa Parade during Osoyoos Christmas Lite-Up. Mike and Margaret de Salaberry have played the role of the most popular Christmas couple over many years. (Richard McGuire photo)
Miss Osoyoos Emmaleigh Diwell gives a royal wave as she rides the Osoyoos Festival Society float in the Santa Parade at Osoyoos Christmas Lite-Up. At left, Santa Claus rides in the sleigh. (Richard McGuire photo)
Jasmeen Mallhi teams to toss the ball into the basket as the Osoyoos Secondary School junior girls basketball team played Keremeos at OSS in December. (Richard McGuire photo)
