Five people face drug charges following a traffic stop that occurred on Highway 17 at Belleau Lake Road on the evening of Sept. 15.
A news release issued today by the Garden River First Nation Detachment of the Anishinabek Police Service states that officers seized suspected crystal methamphetamine as well as various drug paraphernalia during a search of the area.
Full text of the release follows:
GARDEN RIVER FIRST NATION - A member of the Garden River First Nation Detachment of the Anishinabek Police Service (APS) observed a truck driving with its back window completely smashed out near the Big Arrow Gas Bar. There appeared to be five people in the vehicle at this time. Given the driving observations, it appeared that the vehicle was attempting to lose sight of the fully marked APS cruiser.
The vehicle was again spotted on Syrette Lake Road and eventually stopped on Highway 17 at the Belleau Lake Road intersection. The truck was also suspected as a vehicle involved in a police pursuit a few weeks prior with Batchewana First Nation Police Service. As a result of this traffic stop, one male was known to have an outstanding warrant with Sault Ste. Marie Police Service. Michael Hogan-Denis (age 27) was arrested on the merits of that warrant.
As a result of the arrest and a search of the immediate area, officers located illicit drugs that were suspected [to be] crystal methamphetamine. A subsequent search yielded a set of scales, syringes, and various drug paraphernalia. The APS would like to thank the Ontario Provincial Police and the Batchewana First Nation Police for their assistance.
Charged in this matter:
- Matthew James Sloss (age 33) of Sault Ste. Marie was arrested and charged with:
- possession of a schedule 1 substance – methamphetamine Section 4)1) CDSA
- Allysha Valerie Solomon (age 25) of Garden River Fist Nation was arrested and charged with:
- possession of a schedule 1 substance – methamphetamine Section 4)1) CDSA
- Winnifred Amy St-John (age 30) of Sault Ste. Marie was arrested and charged with:
- possession of a schedule 1 substance – methamphetamine Section 4)1) CDSA
- Michael Joseph Hogan-Denis (age 27) of Garden River First Nation was arrested and charged with:
- possession of a schedule 1 substance – methamphetamine Section 4)1) CDSA
- Brandon Patrick Bennett (age 37) of Garden River First Nation was arrested and charged with:
- possession of a schedule 1 substance – methamphetamine Section 4)1) CDSA
The accused parties are scheduled to appear in the Ontario Court of Justice in Sault Ste. Marie on Oct. 18, 2021.
If you have information about suspected unlawful activity, please call APS at 1-888-310-1122 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).