Child Endangerment Charges after Handguns, Drugs Seized in St. Albert and Edmonton Homes

Edmonton… An Edmonton suspected drug dealer is facing 40 criminal offences, including child endangerment charges, after ALERT seized handguns and drugs from homes in west Edmonton and St. Albert.

ALERT Edmonton, an integrated team consisting of Edmonton Police Service, RCMP, and Alberta Sheriffs members, made the arrest and executed two search warrants on November 20. ALERT seized nearly $60,000 in drugs and cash, and located five loaded handguns.

None of the five handguns were being stored properly, and were either loaded or had ammunition in close proximity. One of the handguns, a 40-caliber Glock, was equipped with a laser sight and had its serial number removed. The children living in the home could have easily accessed the guns or drugs.

Six children, between the ages of 5-14, were in the west Edmonton home at the time of the search. ALERT took every precaution to minimize the impact on the children and EPS Child at Risk Response Team attended the scene to provide assistance. The children are presently staying with another family member.

ALERT began the investigation in late September after receiving information about the accused’s suspected drug trafficking activities. The search warrants resulted in the seizure of:

• 5 loaded, restricted handguns;
• 77 rounds of ammunition;
• Prohibited conducted energy weapon;
• 334 grams of cocaine;
• 310 grams of a cocaine buffing agent;
• 200 ecstasy pills;
• 113 grams of marihuana;
• Drug trafficking paraphernalia;
• Three vehicles as offense-related property;
• $20,550 cash proceeds of crime.

A 39-year-old Edmonton man, who is not being named by ALERT in order to protect the identity of the children, is facing a total of 40 criminal charges, including:

• Drug trafficking;
• Possession for the purpose of trafficking (x 3);
• Careless/unsafe storage of a firearm (x 5);
• Unauthorized possession of a firearm (x 5);
• Possession of a restricted firearm with ammunition (x 5);
• Tampering with a firearm’s serial number;
• Possession of a prohibited weapon;
• Dangerous operation of a motor vehicle;
• Child abandonment;
• Causing a child to be drug endangered (x 6);
• Causing a child to be in need of intervention (x 6);
• Breach of recognizance (x 5).

The children’s mother, a 30-year-old woman has also been charged with causing a child to be drug endangered (x 6), causing a child to be in need of intervention (x 6), abandoning a child, and additional firearms and drug charges.

Both appeared in Edmonton court on November 24. The man has been remanded in custody and is scheduled for his next court appearance on November 27.

ALERT was established and is funded by the Alberta Government and is a compilation of the province’s most sophisticated law enforcement resources committed to tackling serious and organized crime. Members of Alberta Sheriffs, Calgary Police Service, Edmonton Police Service, Lethbridge Regional Police Service, Medicine Hat Police Service, and RCMP work in ALERT.