BARRHEAD - A Barrhead man faces substantial criminal charges following a late-morning sting on a 50th Street residence.
On Feb. 18, at 10 a.m., Barrhead RCMP members, with the help of a Westlock RCMP officer, took one man into custody following the execution of a search warrant where police found quantities of illicit drugs, including methamphetamines, crack cocaine and marijuana on the premises. Police also found a set of brass knuckles.
Police were on the scene for about two hours.
Sgt. Hack said that the accused is currently facing eight charges ranging from trafficking narcotics to possessing prohibited weapons.
He added that police are still in the process of weighing and documenting the amount of narcotics, saying it wasn't a huge amount, but what they found was more than just for personal use.
The accused first court appearance will be on March 11 in Barrhead Court of Justice.
He emphasized that police wouldn't have been able to act if it were not for the work of the Alberta Sheriffs Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods (SCAN) unit and area residents who reported that suspicious activities were taking place at the residence through their toll-free 1-866-960-7226 (SCAN) and website alberta.ca/report-suspicious-property. Complainants' identification is kept confidential, and their identity will not be disclosed to the court, public body, or law enforcement agency without prior written consent.
The province created the units in 2008 under the Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Act and allows officers to investigate illegal activities such as drug trafficking, human trafficking and child exploitation. There are four SCAN units in the province.
"SCAN is a great resource for a small community," Hack said. "SCAN will notify us when there is a report on a property and sends their reports to us. We then work with the unit to devise a plan, determine if a crime is taking place and whether we will charge someone criminally or some other route like eviction."
Under the SCAN Act, units can also apply to the courts for a Community Safety Order (CSO) to impose several restrictions and conditions on the property, including closing the property for 90 days.
Since its inception, Alberta's SCAN units have investigated more than 10,000 properties and issued 130 CSOs. Most complaints are resolved by working with owners to stop illegal activity on their property.
Barry Kerton, TownandCountryToday.com
