BREAKING: Police release names in drug arrests (update)

3:30 p.m. update

Police have issued the following press release regarding arrests made to date:

Earlier today officers from the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service, the RCMP and the Anishinabek Police Service executed several arrest warrants as they completed a two month street level drug enforcement initiative. 

To date 12 of the 15 wanted persons have been arrested and charged with offences under the Controlled Drugs and Substance Act (CDSA). 

Additionally some persons also had Criminal Code related charges.

The following persons have been taken into custody and appeared in bail court today:

• 19-year old Simon Barnes, of Borron Avenu,e has been charged with two counts of trafficking in a controlled or substance (cocaine) and one Criminal Code charge of breach of recognizance ie not to possess unlawful drugs
• 29-year old Anthony Belleau, of Whisky Jack Drive, Garden River has been charged with two counts of trafficking in a controlled or substance (marijuana)
• 32-year old Chantel Bonefant, of Wellington Street West, has been charged with one count of trafficking in a controlled or substance (cocaine) and one Criminal Code charge of breach of recognizance ie not to possess unlawful drugs
• 57-year old Kirk Harper, of Wellington Street East, has been charged with 11 counts of trafficking in a controlled or substance  (marijuana, methylphenidate ie Ritalin,  percocet and morphine)
• 40-year old Crystal Harvey, of Gore Street, has been charged with one count of trafficking in a controlled drug or substance (fentanyl)
• 48-year old Gordon Leonard, of Goulais Avenue, has been charged with one count of trafficking in a controlled drug or substance (marijuana)
• 34-year old Kyle Madill, of Bloor Street West, has been charged with four counts of trafficking in a controlled drug or substance (cocaine, fentanyl and morphine)
• 36-year old Berni Lynn Nadon, of Albert St E, has been charged with 4 counts of trafficking in a controlled drug or substance (cocaine and fentanyl)

The following persons have also been charged and will appear in court on December 15.

• 55-year old Dolarisa Bushey, of Wellington Street East, has been charged with three counts of trafficking a controlled drug or substance (Hydromorphine and morphine)
• 47-year old Laurie Cole, of Wallace Terrace, has been charged with two counts of trafficking in a controlled drug or substance (Oxycodone)
• 56-year old Iona Mattila, of Goulais Avenue, has been charged with one count of trafficking in a controlled drug or substance (marijuana)
• 64-year old Harold Smith, of Albert Street East, has been charged with one count of trafficking controlled drug or substance cocaine

The street value of the narcotics is estimated at $20,000

WATCH a replay of the livestream on LOCAL2

City police, RCMP and Anishinabek Police have announced 15 arrest warrants and the seizure of about $20,000 worth of cocaine, marijuana, morphine, fentanyl, percocet and oxycontin.

Police say seven arrests can be confirmed, with some still underway. 

More information is expected to be released this afternoon.

More details are available in the live blog below. SooToday has spoken with police representatives and will file a full report today.

The following is a news release issued by the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service:

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In April of this year the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Anishinabek Police Service teamed together to clamp down on drug trade in the City and Algoma District and formed a Joint Forces Drug Unit. 

The unit consists of one officer from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, one officer from the Anishinabek Police Service and three officers, including a Sergeant, from the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service.

Early this morning officers from all three agencies began making early morning arrests after working together on a two month joint forces effort known as “Project Reno”. (pronounced Reno as in renovation)

This is the second project for the Unit. 

Earlier this year Project Cooper focused on cocaine distribution in the city and area. It resulted in marijuana and cocaine seizures.

Project Reno focused mainly in the downtown area of the City; however, offences also took place in Garden River.

The project has resulted in arrest warrants for 15 people ranging in age from 19 years to 64 years of age. 

37 charges of trafficking in a controlled drug or substance were laid under the Controlled Drugs and Substance Act (CDSA). 

In addition two counts of Breach of Recognizance were laid in relation to possession of unlawful drugs while on a release document prohibiting possession and or use.

During the project officers seized cocaine, marijuana, morphine, percocets, oxycontin and fentanyl.  

The estimated street value of the narcotics is over $20,000

Cocaine and prescription drugs, legally obtained but then sold for profit or cash to feed other addictions, are the narcotics most often seen in the city.

Project Reno began after the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service launched the community mobilization office now known as the Neighbourhood Resource Centre on Gore Street.

Enforcement was directed at those individuals who choose to deal drugs.

Police Services in Ontario are engaging in a new style of policing where social agencies are also involved in getting to the root causes of crime. 

Community mobilization involves working with community agencies and residents to deal with underlying issues such as addiction and mental health issues, but it still involves targeting criminal activity as well.

All Police Services realize the problems associated with addictions however, police cannot turn a blind eye to illicit drug dealing.

Project Reno was a street level project with local drug dealers being targeted.

Addictions can present several challenges and the police in partnership with several agencies in the community and area are able to assist persons in dealing with the underlying issues that can cause crime and illegal activities.

The Neighbourhood Resource Centre, located at 138B Gore Street, is able to assist those who are looking at working through and addressing problems associated with overcoming addictions including illicit drug use.

Officers are continuing to work on this project and complete the remaining arrests.

Later today the names of those charged and their court dates will be released.

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