Police Briefs
This report was previously released on our Facebook page
(FORT FRANCES, ON) – Members of the Rainy River District Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) along with the Fort Frances Community Street Crime Unit (CSCU), the Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau (OCEB), Provincial Operations Intelligence Bureau (POIB) and Treaty Three Police Service executed multiple search warrants at several addresses in the town of Fort Frances in the early morning hours of June 24, 2021.
Dubbed “Project Jules” OPP and Treaty Three officers from across the region conducted a two month covert investigation in an attempt to combat the serious drug overdose issue in the Rainy River District. Additional police resources utilized for this project included the Provincial Asset Forfeiture Unit (PAFU), North West Region Emergency Response Team, Anti Human Trafficking Unit, Northwest Regional Support Team (RST), Regional Digital Forensic Analyst and CSCU from Kenora and Red Lake.
As a result of the warrants police seized over $70,000 in cash and a large number of illegal drugs including Cocaine, Fentanyl, Hydromorphone and Crystal Methamphetamine with a total street value of just under $500,000. Police also seized several weapons including a shotgun and replica handgun.
A total of 12 search warrants were executed resulting in 69 charges. Arrested and charged are:
A 27-year-old Fort Frances man, charged with:
- Trafficking in Schedule 1 (cocaine)
- Possession of proceeds of crime X 2 counts
- Fail to comply with release order
- Trafficking of Schedule 1 (Fentanyl)
He has been held in custody pending a bail hearing.
A 30 year old Fort Frances woman has been charged with:
- Trafficking of Schedule 1 (Fentanyl)
- Possession of proceeds of crime X 3 counts
- Theft under $5000
- Fail to comply with release order
- Trafficking in Schedule 1 (cocaine)
She has been held in custody pending a bail hearing.
A 38 year old woman of Rainy River First Nation is charged with:
- Trafficking of Schedule 1 (Fentanyl)
- Possession of proceeds of crime X 2 counts
- Theft under $5000
- Carry a Weapon
She has been held in custody pending a bail hearing.
A 60 year old Fort Frances man is charged with:
- Trafficking in Schedule 1
- Possession of proceeds of crime
He was released from custody with a future court date of 19 July 2021 at the Fort Frances Ontario Court of Justice.
A 57 year old Couchiching First Nation man is charged with:
- Trafficking in Schedule 1 (cocaine)
- Possession of proceeds of crime
- Knowledge of unauthorized possession of a firearm
- Careless storage of a firearm
He was released from custody with a future court date of 26 July 2021 at the Fort Frances Ontario Court of Justice.
A 24 year old Fort Frances woman is charged with:
- Trafficking in Schedule 1 (cocaine)
- Possession of proceeds of crime
- She was held in custody pending a bail hearing.
- A 27 year old La Vallee Twp. man charged with:
- Trafficking in Schedule 1 (cocaine)
- Possession of proceeds of crime
He was held in custody pending a bail hearing.
A 30 year old Fort Frances man was charged with:
- Trafficking in Schedule 1 (cocaine)
- Possession of proceeds of crime
He was held in custody pending a bail hearing.
A 26 year old Atikokan man was charged with:
- Trafficking in Schedule 1 (cocaine)
- Possession of proceeds of crime
He was held in custody pending a bail hearing.
A 23 year old Big Grassy First Nation woman was charged with:
- Fail to comply with release order
- Trafficking in Schedule 1 (methamphetamine)
She was held in custody pending a bail hearing.
A 33 year old Big Grassy First Nation woman was charged with:
- 0Trafficking in Schedule 1 (methamphetamine) X 2 counts
She was held in custody pending a bail hearing.
“The Rainy River District Detachment is committed to working with our community partners with further education and the ongoing development of new drug prevention strategies. I commend our officers for their outstanding work on Project Jules and the positive impact it will have on our community,” said Acting Rainy River District Detachment Commander Dereck Mclean.
Any person with information regarding this investigation should immediately contact the Ontario Provincial Police at 1-888-310-1122.
Should you wish to remain anonymous, you may call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or access their website at: ontariocrimstoppers.ca where you may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2,000.
IMPAIRED DRIVERS
(Fort Frances, ON) It was a busy Saturday for members of the Rainy River District Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP). They arrested and charged three people with Impaired Driving offences.
At approximately 7:30 a.m. on June 26, 2021, Police received a report of a possible impaired driver in the Town of Fort Frances. Police located and spoke with the driver of a vehicle and determined the driver had been consuming alcohol. The accused was arrested at the scene and transported for further tests. As a result of this investigation, a 26 year old Fort Frances man has been charged with Operation While Impaired-Blood Alcohol Concentration (80 plus).
At 4:30 p.m. A member of the Northwest Region Traffic Incident Management Enforcement, (TIME), team was conducting patrols of Kings Highway 71 in Chapple Township, where he observed a motorcycle committing a Highway Traffic Act offences. Upon speaking to the driver, police conducted a mandatory alcohol screening test. The accused was arrested at the scene and transported to the Fort Frances OPP for further tests. As a result of this investigation, a 46 year old Fort Frances man has been charged with Operation While Impaired-Blood Alcohol Concentration (80 plus).
Finally at 10:00 p.m. an officer on patrol observed a suspicious motor vehicle in Fort Frances, the motor vehicle was stopped and the driver questioned. The driver was subsequently arrested at the scene and transported to the Fort Frances Detachment for tests. As a result of this investigation a 70 year old Fort Frances man has been charged with Operation While Impaired-Alcohol and Operation While Impaired-Blood Alcohol Concentration (80 plus).
All three have been released to appear in Fort Frances Provincial Court on the 19th of July 2021 to answer to the charge(s).
Motorists who drive impaired by alcohol or drugs are subject to drivers licence suspensions, fines, vehicle impoundments, criminal records and increased insurance costs. Drivers 21 years of age or younger have a Zero blood alcohol rule while driving. Please drive responsibly, don’t drink and drive.
The OPP is committed to safety for all who utilize Ontario’s roadways. Members of the public are urged to report Impaired Driving by calling 911 in emergency situations or for non-emergent call 1-888-310-1122.
