Suspected S.E. Alberta Drug Dealers Arrested

Medicine Hat… Five people have been arrested after an ALERT investigation dismantled a drug trafficking network operating in southeast Alberta. More than $77,000 worth of drugs and cash were seized, along with a [alert-tooltip title=”More and more, ALERT investigators are finding firearms when they investigate organized crime groups who are involved in drug trafficking. Click to find out more.”]firearm[/alert-tooltip].

The three-month investigation concluded on October 24, 2019, when ALERT’s Medicine Hat [alert-tooltip title=”ALERT has organized crime teams based in seven cities across Alberta. Click for more info.”]organized crime team[/alert-tooltip] executed a search warrant on a residence in Brooks, Alta., with the help of Brooks RCMP and Medicine Hat Police Service. Investigators allege that the drug trafficking operation was active in both Brooks and Medicine Hat.

In total, ALERT investigators seized:

• 719 grams of [alert-tooltip title=”Methamphetamine (or meth) is a drug that stimulates the central nervous system. It is often seen in the form of a white powder with a bitter taste or a pill. Click for more info.”]methamphetamine[/alert-tooltip];
• 93 grams of [alert-tooltip title=”Cocaine is a powerful, addictive drug derived from the leaves of coca plants, which are native to parts of South America. Click for more info.”]cocaine[/alert-tooltip];
• a rifle;
• a machete; and
• $24,685 in cash proceeds of crime.

“These are significant amounts of drugs and cash to take out of the hands of criminals,” said Staff Sgt. Kelsey Fraser, ALERT Medicine Hat. “Along with the weapons seized, this is a good step toward making the communities of both Brooks and Medicine Hat safer places to live.”

“Co-operation with partners like ALERT is integral to effective policing in southeast Alberta,” added Sgt. Bruce McDonald, acting commander of the Brooks RCMP detachment. “Cases such as this one demonstrate to criminals that they’ll still be found if they try to hide out in smaller centres.”

Kyle Potts, 33, is alleged to be at the centre of the network. He was arrested at the time of the search and charged with a total of 20 criminal offences, including:

• trafficking a controlled substance (x7);
• possession of proceeds of crime (x2);
• breach of recognizance (x7);
• possession of a weapon dangerous to the public;
• unauthorized possession of a firearm; and
• breach of a weapons prohibition (x2).

David Boyer, 33, and Daniel Morrison, 35, were also arrested at the time of the search. Boyer has been charged with one count each of trafficking a controlled substance, possession of proceeds of crime, and possession of a weapon dangerous to the public. Morrison has been charged with trafficking a controlled substance (x4) and possession of proceeds of crime.

Warrants were issued for two other suspects, who were both later arrested by Medicine Hat Police Service. Dallas Johnson, 27, was arrested on October 25, 2019, and charged with one count each of trafficking a controlled substance, possession of proceeds of crime, and breach of recognizance. David Kearley, 33, was arrested on October 30, 2019, and charged with trafficking a controlled substance (x2), possession of proceeds of crime, and breach of recognizance (x2).

Members of the public who suspect drug or gang activity in their community can call local police, or contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). Crime Stoppers is always anonymous. Medicine Hat residents can also submit tips anonymously through the Medicine Hat Police Service mobile app, which is free to download and available for both Apple and Android devices.

[alert-tooltip title=”More than 300 municipal police and RCMP officers work together in teams at ALERT to investigate everything from drug trafficking to child exploitation to gang violence. Click for more info.”]ALERT[/alert-tooltip] 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.