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Grande Prairie… An arsenal of guns, drugs, and stolen property was seized when ALERT and RCMP searched a rural home outside of Fairview, Alta. Six people were arrested, including a 35-year-old man with gang ties.
ALERT’s Grande Prairie organized crime and gang team arrested Robert Cletus Traverse, 35, on May 1. Traverse has an extensive history with police and is allegedly connected to gangs operating out of the B.C. Lower Mainland.
At the time of the search warrant, Traverse remained armed and barricaded inside the home for three hours before surrendering to the RCMP Emergency Response Team. ALERT also received assistance from RCMP Fairview, RCMP Peace River, RCMP McLennan, RCMP Grande Prairie, and CFSEU-BC.
Traverse has an extensive history with police and was wanted on warrants out of Alberta, British Columbia, and Newfoundland. Traverse was allegedly involved in criminal activity between the Alberta/B.C. Peace Region corridors, and he now faces 25 charges related to drugs, guns, and stolen property.
A search of the property yielded an assortment of firearms and an estimated $50,000 worth of stolen property, including a trailer, ATV, and two vehicles. Small amounts of crack cocaine and fentanyl were seized, but it is believed that most of the drugs were destroyed during the execution of the search warrant.
The search warrant resulted in the seizure of:
Traverse is currently bound by a lifetime firearms prohibition. Three of the guns seized had their serial numbers defaced, including a restricted AR15 semi-automatic carbine.
The charges against Traverse include:
In addition to Traverse, five other individuals were arrested and charged. They are facing a combined total of 92 charges related to drugs, firearms, and stolen property.
The work we do is about our communities, and that’s why we recognize that residents can be instrumental in tackling serious crime. If you or someone you know has been the victim of a crime, or you suspect criminal activity, please reach out. Your information will remain strictly confidential.
Thank you for helping to make Alberta safer by being actively involved and reporting suspicious activity.