Six charged in 856 crackdown
Police seize 126 grams of crack cocaine, 28 MDMA pills and 'significant amount' of steroids
Shane Magee
Northern News Services
Wednesday, July 22, 2015
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Six people allegedly connected to the 856 gang are facing various drug and weapons charges after a RCMP federal investigation unit carried out two search warrants last week.
Four people were arrested in simultaneous raids the afternoon of July 16 at a city hotel - police would not say which one - and a 49A Avenue residence.
Three more people RCMP allege are connected to the B.C.-based gang were arrested after a traffic stop later that day.
One of those arrested was released because there was not enough evidence to lay charges, said RCMP Const. Elenore Sturko.
According to an RCMP news release, 126 grams of crack cocaine, 28 MDMA pills and a "significant amount" of anabolic steroids were seized in the raids. Less than 30 grams of marijuana was also seized.
Joshua Luke Petten, 23, of Surrey, B.C., was charged with possession of MDMA for trafficking, possession of cocaine for trafficking, possession of marijuana and possession of steroids.
Petten was sentenced to 18 months in jail in May 2014 after he brought a loaded handgun into two downtown Yellowknife bars.
Last year, Yellowknifer reported he was described as the "enforcer" of the 856 gang in a pre-sentence report and by probation services in B.C.
It's not clear when he was released from jail.
Jacob Michael Feldman, 19, of Langley, B.C., was charged with possession of a weapon - knives - for a dangerous purpose.
Feldman was swept up in another 856 gang-related raid by RCMP in the city last August.
He pleaded guilty to trafficking cocaine and was sentenced to nine months in jail in December.
Yellowknifer reported at the time of his sentencing that Feldman apologized to the court and said he intended to better himself in the future.
Sue Glowach, spokeswoman for the Department of Justice, said the department doesn't speak to specific individuals when asked when Petten and Feldman were released.
However, she wrote in an e-mail that the federal Prisons and Reformatories Act contains a provision allowing inmates to "be credited with 15 days remission for every month served by obeying rules and by actively participating in programs designed to promote rehabilitation and reintegration.
"It also allows for the warden to forfeit remission earned if the disciplinary rules of the institution are not followed," she wrote.
Dennis Wesley Foster, 20, of Yellowknife has been charged with two counts of trafficking cocaine and possessing a weapon - knives - for a dangerous purpose. Jesse William Maley, 19, of Langley, B.C., has been charged with three counts of trafficking cocaine and possessing a weapon - knives - for a dangerous purpose. Justin Aaron Pelletier, 23, of Langley, has been charged with possession of MDMA for trafficking, possession of cocaine for trafficking, possession of marijuana and possession of property obtained by a crime.
Caitlin Brie Larsen, 21, of Surrey, B.C., was charged with possession of MDMA for trafficking, possession of cocaine for trafficking and possession of marijuana.
The six charged were held in custody with bail hearings set for yesterday and today for five of them. None of the allegations have been proven in court.
