The senior girls' volleyball team from the Queen Charlotte high school escaped a potentially rough ferry ride, when police apprehended a suspicious character who had been bothering the young women.
Coach Lee-al Nelson says a strange man approached one of his team members in the Prince Rupert ferry terminal and touched the medal she had earned at the tournament they had attended in Smithers.
When he and the teacher-supervisor found out, they approached four police officers who happened to be getting onto the Skidegate-bound ferry on Sunday night.
"The suspect was inappropriately touching females," said RCMP Constable Edward Luscombe of the North Pacific Traffic Service, who was heading to the islands.
The police approached the man, asked for his identification and ran it through the police computer.
"A Canada-wide warrant for possession of a dangerous weapon came up," said Constable Luscombe. The man had a significant criminal record and Constable Luscombe said he appeared to be high on something.
The man was arrested and taken to the authorities in Prince Rupert. The ferry was delayed for a few minutes during the process.
"The ferry people were pleased to see him go," said Constable Luscombe.
The coach, teacher and 12 volleyball players were also happy to hear the man was taken away.
"We weren't going to get on the ferry until he was off," said Mr. Nelson.
The girls came in fifth at the tournament and Mr. Nelson expects they'll be in the top three next year.