By Leah Murray

ALERT arrest nine people, seize $450,000 in stolen property during drug investigation

Mar 3, 2017 | 7:58 AM

MEDICINE HAT, AB —Officers with the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Team (ALERT) have arrested nine people and are searching for two others after seizing more than $450,000 in stolen property and a large amount of drugs during an investigation into the methamphetamine market in southeastern Alberta.

“This was a very challenging and complex investigation and it’s going to have some immediate results in our respective communities,” said Staff Sargent Cory Both with ALERT in Medicine Hat.

The investigation, involving members of ALERT’s organized crime team, the Medicine Hat Police Service and RCMP in Gleichen, begin in December 2016 and concluded with six search warrants and nine arrests on Feb. 25, 2017.

The search warrants took place at four homes in Strathmore, one in Wheatland County, and at a business in Gleichen with assistance from RCMP Emergency Response Team and RCMP Strathmore.

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Officers seized $75,000 in drugs and recovered almost $350,000 worth of stolen property was recovered, including pick-up trucks, trailers, recreation vehicles, and heavy equipment. ALERT alleges that the stolen property was likely being exchanged for drugs.

“You’re looking at a $50,000 piece of equipment likely being traded for a couple thousand dollars worth of drugs,” said Both.

Police seized a loaded 9mm Norinco handgun, 561 grams of methamphetamine, 126 grams of crack cocaine, 146 grams of marijuana and $9,000 cash proceeds of crime. Stolen property recovered included five stolen pick-up trucks, two utility trailers, two recreational vehicles, a flat-deck trailer, a skid-steer loader and a transport truck.

ALERT believes that this network would have been involved in supplying drugs throughout the region, and the investigation was opened in response to community concerns about meth trafficking and associated crime in the region.

“We discovered what was going on and who the main players were and then we asked for help from the ALERT section,” said Staff Sargent Tim Kelly with the Gleichen RCMP.

Craig Coffey of Strathmore is alleged to be the facilitator of the drug supply by ALERT. The 41-year-old is charged with instructing the commission of an offence for a criminal organization, in addition to 27 other charges related to drugs and stolen property.

“Mister Coffey is known to police,” said Both. “He was on bail when he was arrested for this offence from a drug trafficking offence in 2015 in Gleichen.”

Strathmore residents Echo Brandt (30 years old) Tracy Brown (38 years old), Michael Fittler (27 years old) Kurtis Goett (19 years old), Michael MacCharles (49 years old) and Gabriella Micheud (20 years old), along with 42-year-old Paul Craig from Wheatland County and 59-year-old James MacCormack of Gleichen, have all been charged with more than 30 offences. ALERT alleges the eight were associates of Coffey.

Warrants have also been issued for Jalene Campbell, 24, and Kyle Labbe, 31, both from Strathmore, in connection with the investigation.