LPS Chief Shahin Mahdizadeh (Lethbridge News Now)

By Justin Goulet and David Opinko/LNN

LPS wrap investigation into ARCHES and Lethbridge’s Supervised Consumption Site

Dec 22, 2020 | 12:10 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – The investigation into ARCHES and allegations of financial improprieties at the Supervised Consumption Site (SCS) has been completed.

In July, the provincial government turned over findings of an independent audit to Lethbridge Police to investigate. During that process, more than $1.6 million in provincial funds were unaccounted for.

The missing funds lead to the Government of Alberta pulling all of its funding from the SCS, eventually causing the site to shut down.

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Lethbridge Police Service (LPS) has concluded its investigation.

In the end, however, LPS Inspector Pete Christos says they were able to find all of the missing money.

“The initial information that was brought forward, [the provincial auditors] didn’t have access to the means that we did. We wrote production orders to financial institutions, and through those records, we were able to account for all of those missing funds.”

Chief Shahin Mehdizadeh says their Economic Crimes Unit worked with government officials, auditors, the ARCHES board of directors, and the Specialized Prosecutions Branch for a “lengthy and comprehensive investigation.”

Several interviews were conducted as part of this process.

Christos confirmed that the money was in official ARCHES accounts the entire time.

The Alberta Justice Specialized Prosecutions branch supported the findings of LPS and did not recommend criminal charges as “there wasn’t a reasonable likelihood of conviction and prosecution would not be in the public interest”.

LPS’ involvement in this matter has been wrapped up. They have forwarded their report to the Government of Alberta.

LNN has reached out to ARCHES for comments.