Yellowknife (June 30/03) - Neighbours of a downtown "crack shack" were jarred from their beds early Saturday morning by the explosion of flash grenades as police arrested four suspects in the murder of Justin Hai Van Vo.

Dale Arnold Coutoreille, 42, Gerald Anthony Delorme, 36, Francis Paul Yukon, 26, and Richard Harrison Tutin, 44, were charged with first degree murder. All of the accused are from Yellowknife.

"We've been recreating the last hours of (Vo's) life and our investigation and information has led us to these ... people," said RCMP Inspector Paul Richards.

Coutoreille, Delorme and Yukon were arrested during two separate raids, one at 5117-51st Street and the other at Sissons Court, between 12 a.m. and 1 a.m. Saturday. Tutin was taken into custody later in the day.

The explosion from the flash grenades, which police use to stun suspects, woke up neighbours hundreds of meters away.

"I heard a huge crash and bang," said one man, who lives near the house on 51st street.

Another neighbour, who didn't want his name used, videotaped the aftermath of the raid.

"I heard the crash and decided to get my camera," said the man. He witnessed two suspects being led away by police.

The amateur videotape shows seven members of the RCMP's Emergency Response Team, along with one plain clothes officer, leaving the house.

Shortly after the raids, police went door-to-door explaining what had happened. "We made efforts to speak to the neighbours and reassured them that everything was safe after the entry," said Richards.

Vo, whose charred body was found near the Yellowknife River Bridge last week, was last seen alive in the alley behind the house on 51st street walking towards The Diner.

According to sources, the 35-year-old Vo was a local drug kingpin. At the time of his death, he was facing ten charges, including assault, possession of a narcotic and possession of a prohibited weapon. He spent six months in jail in 2001 for trafficking cocaine.

That didn't surprise neighbours, who say the house on 51st Street and its occupants have a bad reputation.

"It's a crack shack," said one woman who didn't want to be identified.

"I've seen lots of people go in and out there all the time," said another.

Last week, Richards refused to confirm if drugs played a role in Vo's death, but did say police were investigating all possibilities. -With files from Yose Cormier