Five people face a variety of weapons and drug charges after police seized weapons, ammunition, and suspected fentanyl and meth during a search of an Allen Street address last evening.
A news release issued by the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service states that one of the seized rifles was reported stolen last July, and the estimated value of the narcotics is $17,000.
Full text of the news release follows:
On May 18, 2022, officers with the Crime Suppressions Unit, Drug Enforcement Unit and Emergency Services Unit executed a search warrant in the 0-100 block of Allen Street and charged 37-year-old Samantha Lepine, 37-year-old Robert MacLeod, 36-year-old Patrick Robinson, 44-year-old Greg Tatton and 23-year-old Seth Willison.
Around 5:30 p.m. during the execution of a search warrant, six people exited the residence and were placed under arrest for firearms related charges.
A subsequent search of the residence located approximately 19 grams of a substance believed to be fentanyl, 74 grams of a substance believed to be methamphetamine, a .303 calibre bolt action rifle with serial numbers filed off, a mosin-nagant bolt action rifle, and ammunition. The estimated street value of the narcotics seized is $17,000. Further investigation revealed the Mosin-Nagant rifle had been reported stolen on July 26, 2021.
The five accused remained in custody, and the sixth person was released unconditionally.
Ms. Lepine is charged with:
• Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm x3
• Careless Storage of a Firearm x3
• Possession of a Firearm Knowing its Possession is Unauthorized x2
• Possession of a Firearm Contrary to Prohibition Order
• Possession of Ammunition Contrary to Prohibition Order
• Possession of a Prohibited Weapon Contrary to Prohibition Order
• Possession of a Weapon Obtained by Crime
• Tampering with Serial Number of a Firearm
• Possession of a Controlled Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking x2
She was held in custody pending a bail hearing.
Mr. MacLeod is charged with:
• Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm x3
• Careless Storage of a Firearm x3
• Possession of a Firearm Knowing its Possession is Unauthorized x2
• Possession of a Weapon Obtained by Crime
• Tampering with Serial Number of a Firearm
• Possession of a Controlled Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking x2
He was held in custody pending a bail hearing.
Mr. Robinson is charged with:
• Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm x3
• Careless Storage of a Firearm x3
• Possession of a Firearm Knowing its Possession is Unauthorized x2
• Possession of a Firearm Contrary to Prohibition Order x2
• Possession of a Prohibited Weapon Contrary to Prohibition Order x2
• Possession of Ammunition Contrary to Prohibition Order x2
• Possession of a Weapon Obtained by Crime
• Tampering with Serial Number of a Firearm
• Possession of a Controlled Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking x2
• Breach of Probation x4
• Failing to Comply with a Release Order x6
He was held in custody pending a bail hearing.
Mr. Tatton is charged with:
• Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm x3
• Careless Storage of a Firearm x3
• Possession of a Firearm Knowing its Possession is Unauthorized x2
• Possession of a Weapon Obtained by Crime
• Tampering with Serial Number of a Firearm
• Possession of a Controlled Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking x2
He was held in custody pending a bail hearing.
Mr. Willison is charged with:
• Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm x3
• Careless Storage of a Firearm x3
• Possession of a Firearm Knowing its Possession is Unauthorized x2
• Possession of a Weapon Obtained by Crime
• Tampering with Serial Number of a Firearm
• Possession of a Controlled Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking x2
He was released on an undertaking and is scheduled to appear in court on July 18, 2022.