Thunder Bay Crime

A southern Ontario resident is facing charges following a drug trafficking investigation in the Thunder Bay area.

The investigation got underway in September.

On September 18, officers searched a hotel, a business, and a vehicle.

During the searches, the following items were seized:

• Roughly 1.2 kg of suspected cocaine
• Approximately 20 g of crack cocaine
• $84,000 in cash
• Taser
• Cell phones

The estimated street value of the drugs seized is more than $120,000.

As a result, a 42-year-old from Hamilton is facing the following charges:

• Possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose
• Possession of a prohibited device contrary to prohibition order (three counts)
• Possession of proceeds obtained by crime over $5,000
• Possession for the purpose of trafficking – cocaine

The accused remains in custody with a future court date.

The Thunder Bay provincial police have removed a significant amount of illegal drugs and a gun from Thunder Bay following a drug trafficking investigation in the area.

In July, the OPP’s Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau began an investigation into a drug trafficking network allegedly supplying cocaine and other illegal drugs to Thunder Bay and the surrounding communities.

On September 19, officers searched two addresses in Thunder Bay.

During the searches, the following items were seized:

• 10 kg suspected cocaine
• 900 oxycodone tablets
• 1,500 hydromorphone tablets
• Three grams of suspected MDMA
• 35g suspected psilocybin (mushrooms)
• Handgun, loaded magazines and loaded high-capacity magazines
• $33,000 in cash
• Cell phones

The estimated street value of the drugs seized is $1.1 million.

As a result, a 35-year-old from Thunder Bay is facing the following charges:

• Unauthorized possession of a prohibited or restricted firearm
• Careless storage of a firearm
• Possession of a prohibited device (two counts)
• Possession of a firearm or ammunition contrary to a prohibition order (three counts)
• Possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000
• Possession for the purpose of trafficking – cocaine
• Possession for the purpose of trafficking – oxycodone
• Possession for the purpose of trafficking – hydromorphone
• Possession for the purpose of trafficking – psilocybin
• Possession – MDMA

A 34-year-old from Thunder Bay is also facing the following charges:

• Unauthorized possession of a prohibited or restricted firearm
• Careless storage of a firearm
• Possession of a prohibited device, s. 92(2) (two counts)
• Possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000
• Possession for the purpose of trafficking – cocaine
• Possession for the purpose of trafficking – oxycodone
• Possession for the purpose of trafficking – hydromorphone
• Possession for the purpose of trafficking – psilocybin
• Possession – MDMA

Both of the accused remain in custody with future court dates.

The following story contains sensitive subject matter that may be upsetting to readers.

Multiple police services in the Thunder Bay area are continuing a homicide investigation into the death of Deborah Anishinabie.

Anishinabie, who is from Sandy Lake First Nation was reported missing on December 5 last year in Thunder Bay.

On December 18, the missing persons case ended, and the Thunder Bay Police Service charged a 24-year-old man with indignity to a human body.

Police in Thunder Bay never officially confirmed the cases were connected, but the Nishnawbe Aski Nation linked the death and charge.

In January, the accused charged with indignity to a human body was also charged with second-degree murder.

On Monday, the provincial police, the Thunder Bay Police Service (TBPS), and the Nishnawbe Aski Police Service are searching for evidence at the Thunder Bay Solid Waste and Recycling Facility.

One of the focuses of the search is looking for partial human remains.

City police say there is no threat to public safety.

“The Thunder Bay Police Service offers its continued support to members of Deborah’s family and community and recognizes that this news will be troubling and may be traumatizing,” said the TBPS in a media release.

“There is a deeply emotional connection to this search and the crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG).”

City police have provided the following resources for those impacted by the investigation:

• Beendigen: Crisis Line: 807-346-HELP (4357) or 1-888-200-9997
• Thunder Bay Indigenous Friendship Centre: 807-345-5840 or 1-855-345-5840
• NAN Hope 1-844-NAN-HOPE (626-4673)
• Ontario Native Women’s Association: 1-800-667-0816
• Anishnawbe Mushkiki: Phone: 807-623-0383
• Thunder Bay and Area Victim Services: 807-684-1051

Police in Thunder Bay plan on providing more information as it becomes available.

Four people are facing charges following a drug trafficking investigation in Thunder Bay.

On Thursday, as part of the investigation, officers searched two suspects in a parking lot, as well as an address on Cumberland Street North, and homes on Machar Avenue, Windsor Street, and Crossbow Street.

The suspects searched in the parking lot were arrested, and two other suspects were taken into custody during the other searches.

Through the investigation, police seized quantities of suspected cocaine, crack cocaine, and fentanyl, along with cash and paraphernalia consistent with drug trafficking.

The estimated street value of the drugs is roughly $116,000, and an additional $15,000 in cash was also seized.

As a result, a 61-year-old from Brooks, Alberta, is facing the following charges:

• Possession for the purpose of trafficking (cocaine)
• Possession of Proceeds of property obtained by crime over $5,000
• Obstruct a peace officer

A 57-year-old from Thunder Bay is facing the following charges:

• Possession for the purpose of trafficking (cocaine)
• Possession of proceeds of property obtained by crime over $5,000
• Breach of an undertaking

A 49-year-old from Mississauga is facing the following charges:

• Possession for the purpose of trafficking (cocaine)
• Possession of proceeds of property obtained by crime over $5,000

A 45-year-old from Thunder Bay is also facing two charges, including possession for the purpose of trafficking cocaine and possession of a Schedule I substance (fentanyl).

All of the accused remain in custody with future court dates.

Three people are facing charges in Thunder Bay following a provincial police general patrol in Thunder Bay and the Township of Neebing.

On Wednesday, an officer noticed a vehicle known to be stolen and triggered an investigation.

It led to the arrest of two Thunder Bay residents.

A 54-year-old is facing multiple charges, including:

• Possession of a Schedule I substance (cocaine)
• Possession of illicit cannabis
• Possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000
• Possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose
• Failure to comply with a release order (three counts)

A 46-year-old from Thunder Bay is also facing the following charges:

• Operation while impaired (drugs)
• Possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000
• Possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000
• Obstruct a peace officer
• Possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose
• Operation while prohibited under the criminal code

Both of the accused were scheduled to appear in bail court on Thursday.

On Wednesday afternoon in Neebing, officers were also sent to a single-vehicle collision on Little Trout Bay Road.

On-scene officers determined that the driver had been drinking alcohol, and they were placed under arrest.

As a result, a 39-year-old from Hamilton is facing the following charges:

• Take a motor vehicle without consent
• Operation while impaired (drugs and alcohol)
• Operation while impaired (Drug concentration of 80 plus)

The accused has been released from custody with a future court date.

A man is facing several charges after police in Thunder Bay responded to two assaults.

Officers were sent to May Street North on Tuesday evening in response to an assault that was actively taking place.

They were told that a male and a female were assaulting another female.

On scene, officers spoke to witnesses who tried to stop the assault.

Both suspects had approached the witnesses on their property.

One of the witnesses was assaulted by an edged weapon and sustained a minor injury.

As a result, a 29-year-old is facing several charges, including:

• Assault with a weapon (two counts)
• Possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose
• Forcible entry
• Disguise with intent
• Obstruct a peace officer
• Failure to comply with probation order (three counts)
  

The accused appeared in court on Wednesday, and they remain in custody with a future court date.

The Thunder Bay Police Service is still investigating the situation.

Two people are facing charges following a traffic stop for impaired driving.

Officers were sent to the Dawson Road and Strand Avenue area around 9:00 p.m. on Monday in response to a report of a driver who could be impaired.

The driver was operating a motorcycle and was making noise in a parking lot.

Officers were able to locate the driver, and they observed signs of impairment.

While they were trying to arrest the suspect, a bystander approached the scene and started interfering.

The bystander punched one of the officers and bit another.

The driver, once handcuffed, attempted to run away, but they were quickly apprehended.

As a result, a 21-year-old is facing the following charges:

• Impaired operation of a vehicle
• Operation of a motor vehicle while impaired with a blood alcohol concentration of 80 or higher
• Resisting a peace officer
• Failure to comply with a probation order

The bystander, an 18-year-old, is facing the following charges:

• Assault a peace officer (two counts)
• Obstruct a peace officer

Both of the accused have been released with conditions and a future court date.