Eight charged after drug busts
Firearms, drugs, cash seized after search warrants executed at three residences across city Tuesday
Shane Magee
Northern News Services
Friday, September 4, 2015
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Eight people are facing drug-related charges after RCMP carried out three separate search warrants at homes across the city Tuesday, arresting 16 people.
Police seized cocaine, pills believed to be fentanyl, firearms, a BB handgun, ammo and thousands of dollars of cash from homes in three parts of the city Tuesday as they carried out search warrants. - photo courtesy of RCMP |
The raids at homes in Northland Trailer Park, on Con Road, and on Jeske Court in the Range Lake neighbourhood, were for separate investigations into drug trafficking. RCMP Const. Elenore Sturko said the warrants were just carried out at the same time.
"These investigations have targeted a network of known drug traffickers who have been operating in the city of Yellowknife," stated RCMP Sgt. Dean Riou of the federal investigations unit in a news release. "Today has been the result of many months of investigation and intelligence gathering by the G Division RCMP."
The raids yielded cocaine, pills believed to be fentanyl and thousands of dollars in cash. Totals for each were not yet available, however, more than 100 individually packaged rocks of cocaine were found.
There were six firearms and ammunition seized as well as knives and machetes. Three of the guns were recently reported as stolen from a workshop on Lamoureux Road, Sturko said.
Charges laid so far are mostly for possessing cocaine and trafficking cocaine. More charges are expected to be laid, Sturko said. A possession of stolen weapons charge was issued Thursday. Also seized was a baton that had a Taser-like function and a scanner. The firearms and other items, Sturko said, show the risk police face when executing warrants.
At least one person arrested had been in court as recently as last week to be sentenced on other charges.
Todd Vatcher was in court Aug. 26 when a judge ordered him to spend another day in jail after pleading guilty to charges of possession of cocaine, breach of court orders and stealing a 12-gauge shotgun from Canadian Tire in May. His lawyer at the time spoke of his desire to seek treatment for drug addiction.
Another man, Andrew Robert Hardy, made headlines in Grande Prairie, Alta. after he and another person were caught with stolen weapons.
He pleaded guilty in December 2013 to 10 charges connected to the robbery of a Dawson Creek gun store in 2012. According to local media reports, police said a hole was cut in the store's roof and the thieves repelled in.
Six of those charged were expected to appear in court Thursday morning for bail hearings.
The results of those hearings were not available by press time.
Charges laid as of Wednesday
Michael Peter Beauchamp: 40, of Yellowknife: trafficking cocaine and possession of cocaine for trafficking.
Andrew Robert Hardy: 28, of Grande Prairie, Alta.: possession of cocaine for trafficking.
Michael Wesley Lapierre: 38, of Yellowknife: trafficking cocaine, possession of cocaine for trafficking, possession of marijuana, possession of property obtained by a crime (firearm)
Lincoln Prescott: 24, of Yellowknife and Red Deer:
trafficking cocaine.
Matthew Seeton: 30, of Yellowknife: possession of cocaine for trafficking, possession of cocaine, obstructing a police officer and possession of proceeds of crime.
Christopher Matthew Shave: 25, of Yellowknife and Edmonton: trafficking cocaine and possession of cocaine for trafficking.
Aimee Shermet: 32, of Yellowknife: trafficking cocaine, trafficking marijuana and possession of cocaine for trafficking.
Todd Vatcher: 24, Yellowknife: possession of cocaine for trafficking and possession of marijuana.
Source: RCMP
