Police seized an array of items, including drugs and weapons, from a Crescent Heights apartment suite on May 9.--PHOTO COURTESY OF MHPS
Police have seized roughly $50,000 worth of drugs, a firearm and other weapons, and have arrested two Medicine Hat residents following a search at a Crescent Heights apartment.
A drug trafficking investigation led members of the local Alberta Law Enforcement Response Team and Medicine Hat Police Service to conduct a joint search of the apartment on May 9.
Through their search, they discovered 619 grams of methamphetamine, 42 grams of fentanyl, 10 grams of cocaine, 140 oxycodone pills, a sawed-off shotgun, two replica firearms, ammunition, a taser-like weapon and $960 cash.
Justin Crawford and Melissa Andrews, both 40 years old and of Medicine Hat, were charged in connection with the search and seizure.
The pair face a total of 31 drug and firearm-related charges. Both remain in custody, with Crawford making his first court appearance Tuesday.
ALERT Staff Sgt. Ryan Thorburn confirmed Crawford is known to police.
“This is a repeat offender and was out on bail when we began our investigation,” said Thorburn. “He is bound by a lifetime firearm prohibition, and his involvement in the drug trade puts the community at risk.”
Police are conducting a follow-up investigation in an attempt to determine how Crawford was able to acquire the firearm.
The firearm will also undergo forensic analysis, ballistic testing and serial number restoration.
