AND HERE IS THE NEWS…
….a quick glance at the latest local news with Caroline Manson
Is the drought over?
After months of little or no rain, last week finally brought heavy and prolonged periods of rain – said to be the biggest rainfall in two years. Nearly 80mm was recorded on the Roussillon plain, and up to 125mm in the Vallespir and the Albères. But is it enough to declare the drought over? Apparently not. While the surface of the soil is now humid, most of this will be absorbed by the growing plants so the rain has not made a significant impact on the water table levels, which remain at crisis point. Thunder storms are expected next week.
Police chase drunk driver
Having been alerted of a white Peugeot 308 being driven erratically on the ring-road just south of Perpignan, police tracked it down and tried to intercept it, but the driver ignored the lights and sirens and sped off towards the city centre. He was finally brought to a halt by a stinger device laid out on avenue Alfred Sauvy, but refused to open his vehicle to speak to the police. They broke the windows and removed the 40 year old man from the car, who was breathalysed and then taken to a police cell to sober up. He will appear before the court in December.
Fire at La Poste sorting centre
In the early hours of Saturday morning, thick smoke could be seen rising from the main La Poste sorting centre situated in Polygon Nord. A trailer full of parcels caught fire just as the staff were about to unload it. Firefighters had to use a thermal chainsaw to cut into the high and narrow trailer which was divided into partitioned spaces. Although the fire was eventually extinguished, it was too late to save the trailer – and all the parcels it contained.
Bones discovered on construction site in Baixas
Just three weeks after workers started on the construction of a school restaurant, and extensions to the nursery school, work has stopped after diggers discovered human bones. The Gendarmes were called and after discussions with the Town Hall the mystery was solved – the school is built on the site of an old cemetery. The Mayor himself remembers that years ago after heavy rain, bones sometimes appeared in a ditch running alongside. It remains to be seen when the work will be able to resume but for now the Mayor hopes to entrust the bones to a funeral company.
Man shot in Perpignan
On Thursday evening in the St. Assiscle district an individual on a scooter reportedly shot in the direction of a man in a car. The man was injured in the calf and transferred to hospital. The scooter was found burning not far away, and the fire then spread to three parked cars and also to a garage, where the flames caused a gas leak on a box located on the facade of the building. It was obviously a difficult and dangerous operation for the fire-fighters due to the risk of explosion but finally the gas was cut off at the source and they were able to limit the spread of the fire. Investigations are continuing into the shooting but it is suspected to be a continuation of rivalries between drug dealers in Perpignan.
Police find drugs at shoplifters home
Following a shoplifting incident in Argeles-sur-Mer, the gendarmes went to the home of the suspect, an individual ‘well-known’ to the security forces. Once there, they found the stolen loot, and as an added bonus they also discovered 1.2kg of cocaine and 850g of cannabis. In court the man was sentenced to 20 months in prison, and his companion, who was also invited to attend court, was given a 2 year suspended sentence.
Man accused of rape – but released during investigations
On the night of Saturday 27th April, a 16 year old girl was participating in a sleepover in the Saint-Mathieu sector of Perpignan. Apparently this sleepover involved alcohol and ‘poppers’ and at around 3am the girl went outside to get some fresh air. At this point, the suspect, also under the influence of alcohol, sexually assaulted then raped her in the middle of the street. Thanks to CCTV cameras the police were able to arrest the perpetrator at his home just a few hours later. The man was indicted for rape by the investigating judge but although the prosecutor’s office demanded his pre-trial detention, he was finally released under judicial supervision during the investigations.
Mayor of Le Barcares arrested at Montpellier Airport
Alain Ferrand, the mayor of Le Barcarès, was arrested when he got off a plane at Montpellier Airport having returned from a trip to Congo-Brazzaville. He was carrying a suitcase with tens of thousands of euros in cash. He was held in police custody then transferred to Aix-en-Provence prison for pre-trial detention. This is not his first time in prison. He is suspected of corruption by a public elected official, illegal taking of interests, participation in a criminal association, undeclared laundering and transfer of sums from abroad – much of which is to do with tenders received or faked for the structures and services of the annual Christmas Village. Alain Ferrand denies all the charges of which he is accused.
And finally…
Thieves tend to make off with items easy to hide or carry – but an intrepid criminal managed to steal an entire swimming pool from a premises near Barcelona. Thanks to video-surveillance cameras showing a man with a crane-truck lifting the pool over the frence, the police were able to track down the perpetrator, a man who had acted alone. The man in question did not go to the authorities but decided to talk to the pool company directly and offer to pay for the pool. The two parties reached an agreement – even if the man ended up paying a price well over what the pool was worth.