A simple shoplifting incident led OPP to arrest four people, including two from North Bay, for drug trafficking this week.
On September 2 at 1 p.m., an off-duty police officer arrested a man for shoplifting at a business on Highway 11 in Dymond Township. The Temiskaming OPP was called to assist.
Two people fled in a vehicle prior to police arrival and one other person hid inside the store.
The vehicle was found and stopped on Shepherdson Road in New Liskeard and the occupants were arrested.
When the vehicle was searched police located and seized methamphetamine and Fentanyl with an estimated street value of $112,000. The fourth person was later arrested.
Jordan Van Mierlo, 38, and Justine Else, 36, both of North Bay, Ashley Gaudette, 36, of Cobalt, and Ryan O'Hara, 38, of Ajax, are each charged with:
- Possession of a Schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking - methamphetamine
- Possession of a Schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking - Fentanyl
- Possession of proceeds of property obtained by crime under $5,000
- Theft under $5,000
Else also faces a charge of failure to comply with a release order.
All four accused appeared in bail court before the Haileybury Ontario Court of Justice on September 3. They remain in custody and will next appear before the Haileybury Ontario Court of Justice today.
