Two people from Sault Ste. Marie have been arrested and face drug charges following a traffic stop in Blind River Saturday afternoon.
East Algoma OPP stated in a news release issued today that officers seized an imitation handgun, suspected fentanyl and purple heroin, drug paraphernalia and credit cards during a vehicle search.
As a result, Thomas Jackson and Nathan Haefele-McLea were arrested and charged. Both were remanded into custody following a court appearance in Blind River on Sunday.
Full text of the OPP news release follows:
BLIND RIVER - On Aug. 29, 2020, members from the East Algoma Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and a member of Mississauga First Nation Police Service responded to a traffic complaint where a car was having difficulty maintaining its lane of travel as it proceeded westbound on Highway 17 approaching the town of Massey.
Shortly after 3 p.m., OPP located the suspect vehicle leaving a local gas bar within the Territory of Mississauga First Nation and a traffic stop was initiated near the junction of Highway 17 and Eastman Road within the Town of Blind River.
A query revealed both the driver and the passenger were in breach of their Undertaking conditions. Both occupants of the vehicle were arrested.
A search of the vehicle was conducted with assistance from Sault Ste. Marie OPP Canine Unit, where officers located an imitation revolver type handgun, suspected fentanyl and purple heroin (street value of over $600), crystal meth (street value of over $300), drug paraphernalia, cell phones and credit cards.
The vehicle was seized and impounded.
As a result of the investigation, the driver, Thomas Jackson, age 28 from Sault Ste. Marie, was charged with:
• Possession of Schedule I Substance - methamphetamine, contrary to section 4(1) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA);
• Possession of Schedule I Substance - other drugs, contrary to section 4(1) of the CDSA;
• Imitation firearm - use while committing offence, contrary to section 85(2)(a) of the Criminal Code (CC); and
• Three counts of failure to comply with undertaking - other than to attend court, contrary to section 145(4)(a) of the CC.
Nathan Haefele-McLea, age 29 of Sault Ste. Marie, was charged with:
• Possession of Schedule I Substance - methamphetamine, contrary to section 4(1) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA);
• Possession of Schedule I Substance - other drugs, contrary to section 4(1) of the CDSA;
• Imitation firearm - use while committing offence, contrary to section 85(2)(a) of the Criminal Code (CC);
• Two counts of failure to comply with undertaking - other than to attend court, contrary to section 145(4)(a) of the CC; and with
• Two counts of fail to comply with probation order, contrary to section 733.1(1) of the CC.
Both accused appeared before the Ontario Court of Justice Video Bail in Blind River on Aug. 30, 2020 and were remanded into custody.