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Weapons seized during drug arrests have police concerned

Jan 9, 2017 | 3:38 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB — An increase in firearms seized from drug trafficking investigations has police concerned about potential escalation of the city’s drug trade.

On January 6, the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Team (ALERT) arrested four people from Medicine Hat and one Calgary man following an investigation into the city’s methamphetamine trade. Police seized an estimated $4,500 worth of methamphetamine, $820 in cash and material consistent with drug trafficking, but also seized pepper spray, brass knuckles and a Colt Python handgun, a weapon not lawfully possessed by the accused.

“It goes to show that the drug dealers are stepping up their game and arming themselves, which is very concerning, since the methamphetamine trade is already a very volatile and violent trade,” said Staff Sgt. Cory Both, with the Medicine Hat Police Service’s organized crime section. “The fact they are obtaining weapons, particularly handguns, causes a significant community harm risk.”

Wyatt Dickson, 19, of Medicine Hat is charged with five counts of trafficking, two counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking, possession of a prohibited weapon, possession of a restricted firearm, and careless storage of a firearm.

Jade Arcand, 19, of Medicine Hat is charged with two counts of possession of a prohibited weapon, and once count each of possession for the purpose of trafficking, possession of proceeds of crime, careless storage of a firearm, and knowingly possess a restricted firearm.

Etheen Friesen, 33, of Medicine Hat, has been charged with three counts of trafficking, one count each of possession for the purpose of trafficking and and possession of proceeds of crime, and three counts of breach of recognizance.

Kenzie Anderson, 28, of Medicine Hat is charged with one count of breach of undertaking and three counts of breach of recognizance.

Jeremy Leddy, 29, of Calgary is charged with one count each of trafficking and possession of proceeds of crime. Leddy and Anderson appear in court on Tuesday, while Dickson, Friesen and Arcand appear in court on Thursday.

Weapons are becoming a more common seizure during ALERT’s drug investigations in the region during the past year. On November 8, a .44 calibre handgun and a .22 calibre rifle were seized during an investigation into alleged methamphetamine dealing Medicine Hat and Tilley, which resulted in eight arrests. On October 24, police seized a loaded sawed-off shotgun during an investigation near Seven Persons, and a handgun was seized during arrests in Medicine Hat in August.

Both says police are seeing a significant rise in property crime and other offences related to the drug trade, and says a “good portion” of the violent offences police respond to are related to the drug trade.

The seizure of firearms during the investigations, however, brings an additional risk.

“The fact we’re seeing guns now, would lead me to suspect inevitably, we’re going to see meth-related crime involving firearms,” he said.

Both says Medicine Hat police are being challenged when it comes to sourcing where the weapons seized are originating from, and how criminals are getting them.

“However, we can make a concerted effort to try and get them out of their hands, and get them into custody,” he said.

Methamphetamine use has been on the rise in Medicine Hat, with Both saying from 2015 to 2016, police saw a 381 per cent rise in seizures of the drug in the city. He says methamphetamine has been a primary focus for the police service, and says police have seen users who were using other drugs switching to methamphetamine in recent years.