Red Deer City RCMP arrested six males connected to organized crime and laid multiple drug and firearm charges in the span of five days.
Police seized cocaine and other drugs, cash in excess of $11,000 and various guns when they executed search warrants on five homes — one in Sylvan Lake and two in Red Deer on Jan. 21 and another two in Red Deer on Tuesday.
Homes raided in the city were in the areas of Oldring Crescent, Kerrywood Drive, Inglewood Drive and Ironstone Drive.
Arrested and charged with numerous offences are 24 year old Sylvan Lake resident Matthew Earles, 22 year old Eric Hebert of Red Deer, 23 year old Ryan Bryce of Red Deer, 22 year old Robert Kovich of Red Deer, 26 year old James Willert of Red Deer and 30 year old Wesley Morphy of Red Deer.
All are connected to one gang in the city, Supt. Brian Simpson said at a press conference on Wednesday.
“This issue is impacting every city, every small town right across Alberta if not Canada,” he said.
“We’re seeing a proliferation of more drug trafficking and also possession use and weapons relative to this industry. It’s an issue we have to deal with.”
The drug bust resulted from an investigation that lasted for more than three months. Phone calls from concerned residents assisted the RCMP in their investigation.
Simpson said the significant number of guns, some of which were loaded and easily accessible, concern police.
“Where there’s guns, that unfortunately provides an opportunity for them to be used and puts our public at threat,” he said.
Guns seized included a high power assault rifle, three handguns, four long barrel firearms and .22-calibre zip guns that were disguised as pens.
About 150 grams of crack cocaine, 90 grams of soft cocaine, 14 grams of psilocybin or magic mushrooms, 80 grams of oxycontin, 10 grams of marijuana and various amounts of steroids were seized.
The street value of the drugs is between $15,000 and $20,000.
The cash seized included Canadian, American and foreign currencies.
Social Services was called in as a two year old child was present in one of the Red Deer homes that was searched on Tuesday.
Earles, who appeared in Red Deer Provincial Court on Wednesday, was charged with:
• two counts of possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking
• one count of possession of a controlled substance
• one count of possession of proceeds of crime over $5,000
• four counts of fail to comply with condition of recognizance
Bryce, who also appeared in provincial court on Wednesday, was charged with:
• one count of possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose
• one count of careless storage of a firearm
• one count of possession of a restricted weapon
• four counts of fail to comply with condition of recognizance
Hebert will appear in provincial court on Feb. 10 and faces the following charges:
• one count of unauthorized possession of a firearm
• one count of careless storage of a firearm
• one count of tampering with a serial number
• one count of possession of prohibited device
• two counts of possession of a controlled substance
• two counts of fail to comply with condition of recognizance
Kovich will appear in provincial court on Feb. 1 and faces the following charges:
• one count of possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking
• one count of possession of proceeds of crime over $5,000
• four counts of drive while prohibited
Willert was remanded back into custody and is set to appear in provincial court on Thursday. He is charged with:
• one count of production of a controlled substance
• three counts of possession of a controlled substance
• two counts of possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking
• one count of possession of proceeds of crime over $5,000
• one count of possession of a firearm with ammunition
• one count of possession of a restricted weapon
• one count of unsafe storage of a firearm
• one count of possession of a weapon without permit
• one count of child endangerment
Morphy will appear in provincial court on Feb. 1 and is charged with:
• one count of production of a controlled substance
• three counts of possession of a controlled substance
• two counts of possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking
• one count of possession of proceeds of crime over $5,000
• one count of possession of a firearm with ammunition
• one count of possession of a restricted weapon
• one count of unsafe storage of a firearm
• one count of possession of a weapon without permit
• one count of fail to comply with conditions of an undertaking
• one count of child endangerment
Simpson also had a message for drug users in the community: “You’re supplying the money that’s keeps these individuals going and you are impacting our community.”
ptrotter@www.reddeeradvocate.com