THUNDER BAY –Thunder Bay police have arrested seven suspects and seized handguns and significant quantities of illicit drugs in a major bust in the Westfort area.
Officers executed a search warrant at a residence in the 200 block of Amelia Street West around 2:30 p.m. on Thursday.
The warrant was obtained as part of an ongoing investigation into drug trafficking at the location, the TBPS said.
Four of the seven suspects police located at the residence attempted to resist arrest before being taken into custody.
That involved a “brief struggle” between officers and the suspects, said Det. Insp. Jeremy Pearson. While no officers were injured, he called it a serious situation.
“When you have firearms, particularly in that number and with that capacity, and you have subjects who are willing to actively resist arrest, it’s a very, very concerning combination," he said.
One of the suspects was also believed to be in the process of destroying evidence when police arrived, the TBPS said.
Police seized items including three handguns, a high-capacity magazine, $35,000 in cash, and suspected fentanyl and crack cocaine worth over $125,000, police estimated.
The three handguns seized were loaded, and one was converted to a fully automatic, the TBPS stated.
The seven accused were taken to police headquarters and face a litany of charges.
Hazel Marie CRIPPS, 55, of Thunder Bay, is charged with:
• Possession of Cocaine for the Purpose of Trafficking
• Possession of Fentanyl for the Purpose of Trafficking
• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5,000
• Unauthorized Possession of a Weapon
• Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm x 3
• Knowledge of Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm x 3
• Possession of Loaded Prohibited or Restricted Firearm x 3
• Careless Storage of a Firearm x 3
• Making an Automatic Firearm
Robert Gerald DENNHARDT, 49, of Thunder Bay, is charged with:
• Possession of Cocaine for the Purpose of Trafficking
• Possession of Fentanyl for the Purpose of Trafficking
• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5,000
• Unauthorized Possession of a Weapon
• Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm x 3
• Knowledge of Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm x 3
• Possession of Loaded Prohibited or Restricted Firearm x 3
• Careless Storage of a Firearm x 3
• Making an Automatic Firearm
• Fail to Comply with Probation Order
Brian Augustine MENEZES, 25, of Oshawa, Ont., is charged with:
• Possession of Cocaine for the Purpose of Trafficking
• Possession of Fentanyl for the Purpose of Trafficking
• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5,000
• Unauthorized Possession of a Weapon
• Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm x 3
• Knowledge of Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm x 3
• Possession of Loaded Prohibited or Restricted Firearm x 3
• Careless Storage of a Firearm x 3
• Making an Automatic Firearm
• Resist Peace Officer
Isaac PHILIMONA, 18, of Toronto, is charged with:
• Possession of Cocaine for the Purpose of Trafficking
• Possession of Fentanyl for the Purpose of Trafficking
• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5,000
• Unauthorized Possession of a Weapon
• Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm x 3
• Knowledge of Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm x 3
• Possession of Loaded Prohibited or Restricted Firearm x 3
• Careless Storage of a Firearm x 3
• Making an Automatic Firearm
• Resist Peace Officer
• Fail to Comply with Sentence x 2
Malachi Anthony VENUS-SEAFORTH, 18, of Toronto, is charged with:
• Possession of Cocaine for the Purpose of Trafficking
• Possession of Fentanyl for the Purpose of Trafficking
• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5,000
• Unauthorized Possession of a Weapon
• Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm x 3
• Knowledge of Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm x 3
• Possession of Loaded Prohibited or Restricted Firearm x 3
• Careless Storage of a Firearm x 3
• Making an Automatic Firearm
• Resist Peace Officer
A 17-year-old male from Ajax, Ont., is charged with:
• Possession of Cocaine for the Purpose of Trafficking
• Possession of Fentanyl for the Purpose of Trafficking
• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5,000
• Unauthorized Possession of a Weapon
• Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm x 3
• Knowledge of Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm x 3
• Possession of Loaded Prohibited or Restricted Firearm x 3
• Careless Storage of a Firearm x 3
• Making an Automatic Firearm
• Resist Peace Officer
A 16-year-old male from Whitby, Ont., is charged with:
• Possession of Cocaine for the Purpose of Trafficking
• Possession of Fentanyl for the Purpose of Trafficking
• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5,000
• Unauthorized Possession of a Weapon
• Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm x 3
• Knowledge of Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm x 3
• Possession of Loaded Prohibited or Restricted Firearm x 3
• Careless Storage of a Firearm x 3
• Making an Automatic Firearm
All suspects appeared in bail court on Friday and were remanded into custody with future appearance dates.
