The Slave Lake General Investigation Section (GIS) along with members of the Slave Lake Detachment have and continue to target and focus on crime reduction initiatives within the community. Some of those initiatives have included drug investigations. Since January of this year, Slave Lake GIS and members of the Slave Lake Detachment have conducted several drug trafficking investigations that have resulted in the seizure of large quantities of illicit drugs and stolen property. Some of those investigations include:
Early February, Slave Lake GIS had been monitoring a prolific offender in the community. A traffic stop was conducted on the individual and large quantities of methamphetamine (meth), fentanyl, and crack cocaine were located inside the vehicle. Verne Bruce Johnson was charged with multiple CDSA offences. Johnson is currently in custody and awaiting sentencing for numerous offences.
In March, Slave Lake GIS lodged into a Controlled Drug and Substance Act (CDSA) and firearms investigation on a property in the North West quadrant of Slave Lake. A search warrant was executed on the property and quantities of meth and fentanyl were located inside. Mark Aaron Hunt and Dominic Carl Beaver were both charged with CDSA and other Criminal Code offences.
Late April, Slave Lake GIS conducted an investigation into a residence in the North East part of Slave Lake after several complaints from community members of possible criminal activity. A search warrant was executed on the home and large quantities of meth and cash were located and seized. Melissa Becky Boostrom, Jonathan Trindle, and Christopher Jenkins were all charged with CDSA and other Criminal Code offences.
As of January 2021, the Slave Lake GIS and members of the Slave Lake Detachment have been targeting prolific and habitual offenders and focused on the drug culture in efforts to reduce property crime and violence. The drug trade is a main driver for property theft, with stolen property being used as currency to support person(s) drug addictions. Slave Lake RCMP will continue to focus on crime reduction initiatives one being drug trafficking offences with the aim of reducing property crime and having a safer community.
If you have any information on drug trafficking or property theft within the community, please reach out to the Slave Lake RCMP. If you see a crime in progress, call 911. If you wish to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), online at www.p3Tips.com or by using the “P3 Tips” app available through the Apple App or Google Play Store.