Kings District RCMP and the West Hants RCMP Street Crime Enforcement Unit have charged four people in a multi-jurisdictional investigation involving a home invasion and drug trafficking.
In October 2021, the West Hants RCMP Street Crime Enforcement Unit (SCEU) began a drug trafficking investigation involving a 53-year-old woman and a 60-year-old man, both from Garlands Crossing in West Hants. SCEU began collecting information and evidence related to cocaine trafficking and identified a home that the drugs were being trafficked from.
On April 4, 2022, Kings District RCMP responded to a report of a home invasion on Deep Hollow Rd. in White Rock, Kings County. RCMP officers learned that two men and a woman had entered the home, assaulted a 29-year-old woman, threatened to kill her and stole her cellphone before fleeing the home. The suspects were known to the victim, and officers did not believe this to be a random act.
On April 7, Kings District RCMP, with assistance from the Kings District RCMP General Investigation Section (GIS), Annapolis RCMP Street Crime Enforcement Unit (SCEU) and the Valley Integrated Street Crime Enforcement Unit (VISCEU), executed a search warrant as part of the investigation into the incident on April 4, at an apartment on Hillside Dr. in Wolfville.
Police safely arrested 35-year-old Trevor Atwell and 31-year-old Joshua Manning. Both were transported to the Kings District East Detachment in New Minas where they were lodged in cells. During the search, police located and seized a handgun, three replica handguns, ammunition, cocaine, scales, packaging, drug paraphernalia and cellular phones.
At the same time, West Hants RCMP SCEU, with assistance from West Hants District RCMP and the Criminal Intelligence Service of Nova Scotia (CISNS), executed a search warrant at a home on Bowman Rd. in Garlands Crossing in relation to the ongoing drug trafficking investigation and the incident on April 4. Police safely arrested a 60-year-old Guy Gosselin and a 53-year-old Lorrie Bonang. Both were transported to the West Hants RCMP Detachment in Windsor where they were lodged in cells. During the search, police located and seized a conducted energy weapon (CEW), cocaine, scales, packaging, drug paraphernalia, cash, cellular phones and a laptop.
Trevor Atwell, 35, of Wolfville, has been charged with the following:
· Robbery;
· Assault;
· Uttering Threats;
· Break and Enter and Commit;
· Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm;
· Possession of Firearm Knowing It’s Possession is Unauthorized;
· Unsafe Storage of a Firearm;
· Possession of Cocaine for the Purpose of Trafficking;
· Production of Cocaine;
· Theft under $5,000;
· Failure to Comply with Conditions of a Release Order (3 counts).
Joshua Manning, 31, of Wolfville, has been charged with the following:
· Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm;
· Possession of a Firearm Knowing It’s Possession is Unauthorized;
· Unsafe Storage of a Firearm;
· Possession of Cocaine for the Purpose of Trafficking;
· Production of Cocaine.
Lorrie Bonang, 53, of Garlands Crossing, has been charged with the following:
· Robbery;
· Assault;
· Uttering Threats;
· Break and Enter and Commit;
· Possession of a Firearm Knowing It’s Possession is Unauthorized (2 counts);
· Possession of Property Obtained by Crime;
· Laundering Proceeds of Crime;
· Possession of Cocaine for the Purpose of Trafficking;
· Production of Cocaine;
· Theft under $5,000;
· Failure to Comply with Conditions of a Release Order (2 counts).
Guy Gosselin, 60, of Garlands Crossing, has been charged with the following:
· Possession of Property Obtained by Crime;
· Laundering Proceeds of Crime;
· Possession of Cocaine for the Purpose of Trafficking;
· Production of Cocaine.
Atwell and Bonang were both remanded into custody on April 8. Bonang will appear in Windsor Provincial Court on April 11 at 10 a.m. and Atwell will appear in Kentville Provincial Court on April 12 at 1:30 p.m.
Manning and Gosselin were both held in custody and released on conditions by the court on April 8. Manning will return to Kentville Provincial Court on May 10 at 9:30 a.m. and Gosselin will return to Windsor Provincial Court on May 17 at 10 a.m.
“These investigations were successful because we pulled together, frontline and specialized resources across jurisdictional boundaries. This is excellent work by all involved.” says Supt. Dan Morrow, District Policing Officer for Southwest Nova District RCMP.
“Together, investigators gathered evidence, and assessed and analyzed information to establish the facts that led to these charges. The ultimate outcome is safer communities from which we all benefit.” Says Insp. Kurt Kamotzki, Officer in Charge of Kings District RCMP
“The combined effort of our resources led to a positive outcome for our communities collectively.” says S/Sgt. Dave Ferguson, West Hants District RCMP Commander.
Note: The Valley Integrated Street Crime Enforcement Unit is comprised of members of the Kings District RCMP and Kentville Police Service.
Source: Release