NEWS RELEASE
TIMMINS POLICE SERVICE
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The Timmins Police Service has charged 5 persons with a number of Criminal Code and Drug Trafficking offences stemming from the execution of a search warrant at a Pine Street North residence on Friday, May 7.
Based on an ongoing drug investigation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Unit of the Timmins Police Service, a search warrant was executed allowing entry into the residence by Timmins Police – Emergency Response Team working in conjunction with OPP officers.
As a result, the following exhibits were seized as evidence by the Timmins Police Service:
• 271.8 grams of fentanyl with an estimated street value of $163,000
• a loaded 9 mm handgun
• approximately $5,000 in Canadian currency
The total street value of the drugs and cash seized is pegged at over $168,000.
As a result of the incident, Kwani Garwood, 21 of Toronto; and Josiah Blenman, 21 of Pickering, were arrested and charged with:
• Possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking contrary to the Controlled Drug and Substances Act
• Possession of property obtained by crime contrary to the Criminal Code of Canada
• Unauthorized possession of a prohibited or restricted weapon contrary to the Criminal Code of Canada
• two counts of careless storage of a firearm contrary to the Criminal Code of Canada
• two counts of having knowledge of unauthorized possession of a firearm contrary to the Criminal Code of Canada
• Unauthorized possession of a weapon contrary to the Criminal Code of Canada
• two counts of fail to comply with probation order contrary to the Criminal Code of Canada
• Possession of a loaded prohibited or restricted firearm contrary to the Criminal Code of Canada
Garwood is further charged with three counts of fail to comply with release order contrary to the Criminal Code of Canada.
Blenman is further charged with two counts of fail to comply with release order and two counts of fail to comply with probation order contrary to the Criminal Code of Canada.
Additionally, Aaron Stewart, 23 of Pickering, was arrested and has been charged with possession of property obtained by crime contrary to the Criminal Code of Canada.
He was released from police custody on the strength on an Undertaking compelling his attendance at Provincial Court in Timmins on June 23 to answer to the charge laid against him.
Additionally, Michel Fortier, 34 of Timmins, was arrested and has been charged with fail to comply with release order contrary to the Criminal Code of Canada.
He was released from police custody on the strength on an Undertaking compelling his attendance at Provincial Court in Timmins on June 22 to answer to the charge laid against him.
In the course of the execution of the search warrant, a 29-year-old woman was arrested but was subsequently released unconditionally.
Garwood and Blenman remain in police custody at present awaiting a bail hearing at Provincial Court in Timmins to answer to the respective charges laid against them.
The Timmins Police Service are aware that both the Toronto Police Service and the Peel Regional Police Service have overlapping and concurrent interests in some of the parties involved in this matter.
Custodial and investigative issues are being addressed by these agencies.
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